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Iran reformists held after street clashes Iran reformists held after street clashes
(about 2 hours later)
Up to 100 members of Iranian reformist groups have been arrested, accused of orchestrating violence after the disputed presidential election result.Up to 100 members of Iranian reformist groups have been arrested, accused of orchestrating violence after the disputed presidential election result.
Backers of defeated reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi were rounded up overnight, reports said, including the brother of ex-President Khatami.Backers of defeated reformist Mir Hossein Mousavi were rounded up overnight, reports said, including the brother of ex-President Khatami.
Mr Mousavi's whereabouts are unknown but he is thought to remain free.Mr Mousavi's whereabouts are unknown but he is thought to remain free.
Crowds took to the streets of Tehran on Saturday to protest against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election.Crowds took to the streets of Tehran on Saturday to protest against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election.
There were clashes between protesters and police in Tehran, despite calls from Mr Mousavi to avoid violence.There were clashes between protesters and police in Tehran, despite calls from Mr Mousavi to avoid violence.
He has refused to accept the election result, calling it a "dangerous charade" and alleging wide-scale irregularities.He has refused to accept the election result, calling it a "dangerous charade" and alleging wide-scale irregularities.
IRANIAN ELECTION Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: 62.6%Mir Hossein Mousavi: 33.8%Mohsen Rezai: 1.7%Mehdi Karroubi 0.9%Turnout: 85% Source: Interior ministry In pictures: Election clashes In quotes: Reaction to result Tension looms after Iran result Iran poll result: Your comments
Mr Ahmadinejad is due to hold a news conference on Sunday before attending what is expected to be a huge victory rally.Mr Ahmadinejad is due to hold a news conference on Sunday before attending what is expected to be a huge victory rally.
In a TV address on Saturday, he condemned the outside world for "psychological warfare" against Iranians during the election, which he called "totally free and fair".
"This is a great victory at a time and condition when the whole material, political and propaganda facilities outside of Iran and sometimes... inside Iran, were totally mobilised against our people," he said.
Lock downLock down
Details of the arrests remained sketchy, but reports said those detained were members of pro-reformist political parties which had backed Mr Mousavi during the election campaign. Details of latest arrests remained sketchy, but reports said those detained were members of pro-reformist political parties which had backed Mr Mousavi during the election campaign.
The reformists - said to include the brother of former President Mohammed Khatmai, a former government spokesman and a former deputy speaker of parliament - were said to have been taken from their homes by security forces overnight. The reformists - said to include Mohammad Reza Khatami, brother of former President Mohammad Khatami, a former government spokesman and a former deputy speaker of parliament - were reported to have been taken from their homes by security forces overnight.
IRANIAN ELECTION Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: 62.6%Mir Hossein Mousavi: 33.8%Mohsen Rezai: 1.7%Mehdi Karroubi 0.9%Turnout: 85% Source: Interior ministry class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/8098776.stm">In pictures: Election clashes class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/8098907.stm">Iran poll result: Your comments class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6596&edition=2">Send us your comments Jon LeyneReporting from Tehran
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has always seen himself as more than just a politician. Sometimes he speaks, and is treated, more like a seer prophesying the death of capitalism and liberal democracy. With this victory, however secured, he will feel emboldened in this global vision.
At home, many Iranians will fear a clampdown on society and cultural life. Mr Ahmadinejad knows that many even within the political establishment oppose him, which might increase his tendency towards authoritarianism. All those young people who were out campaigning against him so recently will be nervous about their future, and even more disillusioned with the Islamic Republic.
Then there is foreign policy and the nuclear issue. How can US President Barack Obama open negotiations with a president whose legitimacy and human rights record is even deeper under question? It is a political earthquake that will shake Iran, and could shake the world.
Iran's state news agency, Irna, said those arrested were involved in orchestrating Saturday's protests in Tehran.Iran's state news agency, Irna, said those arrested were involved in orchestrating Saturday's protests in Tehran.
The streets of the Iranian capital were reported to be calm on Sunday morning, but the BBC's Jon Leyne, in the city, says concrete barriers are being erected in the streets. But the BBC's foreign affairs editor John Simpson, in Tehran, says that while the protests appeared to an upsurge of anger amongst ordinary people and did not appear to be arranged, it is an instinctive reaction by the authorities to see a hidden hand.
Senior Iranian political figures have offered their backing to Mr Ahmadinejad, among them parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani, the head of the judiciary and one of his defeated rivals. The streets of the Iranian capital were reported to be calm on Sunday morning, but concrete barriers are being erected in the city centre.
Mohsen Rezai, who won just 1.7% of the vote, declared that Mr Ahmadinejad had been elected president by "legal procedures". Senior Iranian political figures have offered their backing to Mr Ahmadinejad, among them parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani and the head of the judiciary.
One of his defeated rivals also congratulated Mr Ahmadinejad. Mohsen Rezai, who won just 1.7% of the vote, declared that Mr Ahmadinejad had been elected president by "legal procedures".
"I will support him in a bid to prevent any delays in the provision of services to the people," Mr Rezai said in a statement."I will support him in a bid to prevent any delays in the provision of services to the people," Mr Rezai said in a statement.
The president already has the backing of the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who endorsed his election win on Saturday.The president already has the backing of the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who endorsed his election win on Saturday.
Our correspondent says the expressions of support for Mr Ahmadinejad could be an attempt to "lock down" support for the president within Iran's divided political establishment. The BBC's Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne says the expressions of support for Mr Ahmadinejad could be an attempt to "lock down" support for the president within Iran's divided political establishment.
Murky truth
The controversy over Iran's election flared after high turnout and long queues at polling stations on Friday led Mr Mousavi's supporters to expect a strong showing from their candidate and a close result.
Turnout was estimated at 85%, with voting extended in many places.
Streets in Tehran were set alight as protesters burned barricades
But official results on Saturday gave the incumbent, Mr Ahmadinejad, a landslide victory. His final share of the vote was almost 63%.
Despite a rapid endorsement of the result from Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, Mr Mousavi issued a statement denouncing the verdict and alleging widespread voting irregularities.
Our correspondent John Simpson, in Tehran, says the truth about this election may never be known. But many observers in Iran feel that the final result did not reflect the extraordinary numbers of people who turned out to vote, he adds.
World reaction has been muted, with major powers slow to welcome the Iranian result.
The European Union and Canada have voiced concern about allegations of irregularities, while US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said only that Washington hoped the result reflected the "genuine will and desire" of Iranians.
Long-time allies such as Venezuela and Syria, as well as neighbours Iraq and Afghanistan, are among those who have recognised Mr Ahmadinejad as the winner.