HUNDREDS OF MOUSSAVI’S SUPPORTERS ARRESTED IN IRAN

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
22.06.2009 15:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Hundreds of Mir-Hossein Moussavi’s supporters
were arrested in the weekend’s protests against the disputed Iranian
presidential election. It emerged on Monday, as the opposition leader
urged people not to be intimidated and to keep up their peaceful
protests.

State radio said 457 were detained on Saturday – the bloodiest day
of protests against the results of the June 12 poll which declared
a landslide victory for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the fundamentalist
president.

At least 10 people were killed on Saturday, according to official
reports.

There have been demonstrations in support of the Iranian opposition
held throughout Europe. In Berlin, Iranian emigres took to the streets
carrying banners that read "Together for Iran" and "Stop the Killing".

Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel sent a message to Iran’s
government. She said for confidence in Iran to grow, there must be
a complete recount of the votes.

"I call upon the Iranian leaders to allow peaceful demonstration,
freedom of media reporting, to refrain from using force against
demonstrators and to free opponents in detention," she said.

In Paris, thousands of demonstrators from an exiled opposition group
called for the EU to put pressure on the Iranian authorities to have
a new election.

Spain’s foreign ministry issued a statement supporting its European
partners, accused by Tehran of interfering in internal Iranian affairs.

And Italy called on Tehran to avoid further bloodshed, saying violence
is the enemy of Iran, its history and its ancient tradition.