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Shots fired at huge Iran protest Shots fired at huge Iran protest
(20 minutes later)
Shots have been fired at a rally in Iran where hundreds of thousands of people were demonstrating against last week's presidential election results.Shots have been fired at a rally in Iran where hundreds of thousands of people were demonstrating against last week's presidential election results.
One protester was killed and several more were hurt when security forces opened fire.One protester was killed and several more were hurt when security forces opened fire.
The crowd had been addressed by beaten candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, who believes the vote was fixed in favour of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.The crowd had been addressed by beaten candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, who believes the vote was fixed in favour of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Mr Ahmadinejad has dismissed the claims and says the vote was fair.Mr Ahmadinejad has dismissed the claims and says the vote was fair.
The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Tehran, says Monday's rally was the biggest demonstration in the Islamic republic's 30-year history and described it as a "political earthquake". AT THE SCENE Jon LeyneReporting from Tehran It was an incredible sight. A huge crowd, hundreds of thousands of people maybe even millions of people there in defiance of open threats from the government that they should not assemble.
AT THE SCENE Jon LeyneReporting from Tehran I just came away from the protest. It was an incredible sight. A huge crowd, hundreds of thousands of people maybe even millions of people there in defiance of open threats from the government that they should not assemble. The security forces were staying well away - we were even able to film and usually the secret police come in straight away and stop you. But the crowds were so enormous they were stepping back. As we drove out we saw rows of riot police stationed on the highway.
While I was at the demonstration the security forces were staying well away from it. We were even able to film and usually the secret police come in straight away and stop you. But the crowds were so enormous they were stepping back. As we drove out we saw rows of riot police stationed on the highway.
If they have opened fire, that is going to really ratchet up this, it could be frankly a huge political mistake for those running this country.If they have opened fire, that is going to really ratchet up this, it could be frankly a huge political mistake for those running this country.
The BBC's Jon Leyne, in Tehran, says Monday's rally was the biggest demonstration in the Islamic republic's 30-year history and described it as a "political earthquake".
The government had outlawed any protest following two days of unrest, with the interior ministry warning that "any disrupter of public security would be dealt with according to the law".The government had outlawed any protest following two days of unrest, with the interior ministry warning that "any disrupter of public security would be dealt with according to the law".
Despite this, correspondents said riot police had been watching the rally during the afternoon and had seemed to be taking no action.Despite this, correspondents said riot police had been watching the rally during the afternoon and had seemed to be taking no action.
But reports at 2045 local time (1615 GMT) said shots were being fired.But reports at 2045 local time (1615 GMT) said shots were being fired.
"There has been sporadic shooting out there... I can see people running here," Reuters quoted a reporter of Iran's Press TV as saying from Tehran's Azadi Square."There has been sporadic shooting out there... I can see people running here," Reuters quoted a reporter of Iran's Press TV as saying from Tehran's Azadi Square.
"A number of people who are armed, I don't know exactly who they are, but they have started to fire on people causing havoc in Azadi Square.""A number of people who are armed, I don't know exactly who they are, but they have started to fire on people causing havoc in Azadi Square."
At work today, they weren't letting people leave the office to attend Mousavi's demonstration. It would have been even bigger if everyone who wanted to go had been allowed to MaryanTehran civil servant Bypassing Iran's firewalls Editors' blog: Stop the jamming
A photographer at the scene told news agencies that security forces had killed one protester and seriously wounded several others. A man is said to have been arrested over the shooting.A photographer at the scene told news agencies that security forces had killed one protester and seriously wounded several others. A man is said to have been arrested over the shooting.
He said the shooting began when the crowd attacked a compound used by a religious militia linked to the country's powerful Revolutionary Guard.He said the shooting began when the crowd attacked a compound used by a religious militia linked to the country's powerful Revolutionary Guard.
The AFP news agency reported that police fired tear gas and groups of protesters set motorbikes alight.The AFP news agency reported that police fired tear gas and groups of protesters set motorbikes alight.
Ayatollah's interventionAyatollah's intervention
Earlier, the demonstrators had gathered in Tehran's Revolution Square, chanting pro-Mousavi slogans, before marching to Azadi Square.Earlier, the demonstrators had gathered in Tehran's Revolution Square, chanting pro-Mousavi slogans, before marching to Azadi Square.
"Mousavi we support you. We will die, but retrieve our votes," they shouted, many wearing the green of Mousavi's election campaign."Mousavi we support you. We will die, but retrieve our votes," they shouted, many wearing the green of Mousavi's election campaign.
And Mr Mousavi eventually appeared, addressing the crowd from the roof of his car.And Mr Mousavi eventually appeared, addressing the crowd from the roof of his car.
"The vote of the people is more important than Mousavi or any other person," he told his supporters."The vote of the people is more important than Mousavi or any other person," he told his supporters.
His wife, Zahra Rahnavard, a high-profile supporter of her husband's campaign, later said they would keep up their protests. "We will stand until the end," she told the AFP.His wife, Zahra Rahnavard, a high-profile supporter of her husband's campaign, later said they would keep up their protests. "We will stand until the end," she told the AFP.
The renewed protests come after Mr Mousavi and fellow defeated candidate Mohsen Rezai filed official complaints against the election result with the Guardian Council - the country's powerful clerical group.The renewed protests come after Mr Mousavi and fellow defeated candidate Mohsen Rezai filed official complaints against the election result with the Guardian Council - the country's powerful clerical group.
POST-POLL CRACKDOWN More than 100 opposition figures arrested, including the brother of ex-reformist President Khatami.Local and international phone and text message services interruptedSocial networking and newspaper websites blockedBBC says "heavy electronic jamming" from inside Iran disrupts its Persian TV serviceInternational journalists arrested and asked to leaveIranian newspapers do not carry reports of the violence Source: Various reports href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/">Editors' blog: Stop the jamming class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/8051750.stm">Guide: How Iran is ruled Internet brings events to life Challenge to republic POST-POLL CRACKDOWN More than 100 opposition figures arrested, including the brother of ex-reformist President Khatami.Local and international phone and text message services interruptedSocial networking and newspaper websites blockedBBC says "heavy electronic jamming" from inside Iran disrupts its Persian TV serviceInternational journalists arrested and asked to leaveIranian newspapers do not carry reports of the violence Source: Various reports Guide: How Iran is ruled Internet brings events to life Challenge to republic
State television reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has upheld the election result, urged the Guardian Council to "precisely consider" the complaints.State television reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has upheld the election result, urged the Guardian Council to "precisely consider" the complaints.
A spokesman for the 12-member council said they would meet Mr Mousavi and Mr Rezai on Tuesday. They are expected to decide on the complaints by next week.A spokesman for the 12-member council said they would meet Mr Mousavi and Mr Rezai on Tuesday. They are expected to decide on the complaints by next week.
But the Iranian leadership has put itself in an impossible position, our Tehran correspondent says.But the Iranian leadership has put itself in an impossible position, our Tehran correspondent says.
He says that Ayatollah Khamenei has given his complete endorsement to the election result and to President Ahmadinejad, and by doing so he has put at risk the very foundations of the Islamic republic.He says that Ayatollah Khamenei has given his complete endorsement to the election result and to President Ahmadinejad, and by doing so he has put at risk the very foundations of the Islamic republic.
Dozens of opposition activists have been arrested since the protests began, while internet sites appear to have been blocked and the media heavily restricted.Dozens of opposition activists have been arrested since the protests began, while internet sites appear to have been blocked and the media heavily restricted.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was following the situation closely.UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was following the situation closely.
"The position of me and the United Nations is that the genuine will of the Iranian people should be fully respected," he told reporters."The position of me and the United Nations is that the genuine will of the Iranian people should be fully respected," he told reporters.
EU foreign ministers expressed "serious concern" and called for an inquiry into the conduct of the election, while France and Germany each summoned their Iranian ambassadors to explain what was going on.EU foreign ministers expressed "serious concern" and called for an inquiry into the conduct of the election, while France and Germany each summoned their Iranian ambassadors to explain what was going on.
Ahmadinejad supporters protested at French and UK embassies in TehranAhmadinejad supporters protested at French and UK embassies in Tehran
German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticised the use of "completely unacceptable" force against protesters.German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticised the use of "completely unacceptable" force against protesters.
"We are worried about the limitations of media coverage and we believe there should be a transparent evaluation of the election result. There are signs of irregularities," she said."We are worried about the limitations of media coverage and we believe there should be a transparent evaluation of the election result. There are signs of irregularities," she said.
Groups of Ahmadinejad supporters gathered outside French and British embassies in Tehran, protesting against what they consider to be foreign interference in Iran's affairs.Groups of Ahmadinejad supporters gathered outside French and British embassies in Tehran, protesting against what they consider to be foreign interference in Iran's affairs.
"We have gathered here to protest the hidden interference of the Brits and the world, who are trying to create chaos in our country," one protester said."We have gathered here to protest the hidden interference of the Brits and the world, who are trying to create chaos in our country," one protester said.
Among the countries congratulating Mr Ahmadinejad on his victory were Iraq, Afghanistan, Venezuela and North Korea.Among the countries congratulating Mr Ahmadinejad on his victory were Iraq, Afghanistan, Venezuela and North Korea.


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