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| Iran probes 646 poll complaints | Iran probes 646 poll complaints |
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| Iran's top legislative body says it is investigating 646 complaints from the three defeated presidential candidates over last week's election. | Iran's top legislative body says it is investigating 646 complaints from the three defeated presidential candidates over last week's election. |
| The powerful Guardian Council said it had invited Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and Mohsen Rezai to a meeting on Saturday to discuss the complaints. | The powerful Guardian Council said it had invited Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and Mohsen Rezai to a meeting on Saturday to discuss the complaints. |
| Another key body has raised eyebrows by failing to endorse the election result. | Another key body has raised eyebrows by failing to endorse the election result. |
| Mr Mousavi has addressed thousands at a rally called to mourn eight protesters killed on Monday, witnesses say. | Mr Mousavi has addressed thousands at a rally called to mourn eight protesters killed on Monday, witnesses say. |
| [End] the violent actions against people and free those arrested Mousavi letter to judiciary Reporters' log Key arrests in crackdown Basij militia force | [End] the violent actions against people and free those arrested Mousavi letter to judiciary Reporters' log Key arrests in crackdown Basij militia force |
| Mr Mousavi, the leading presidential challenger, had called for the day of mourning and also demanded the release of a growing number of opposition politicians and journalists who have been arrested. | Mr Mousavi, the leading presidential challenger, had called for the day of mourning and also demanded the release of a growing number of opposition politicians and journalists who have been arrested. |
| President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected with almost two-thirds of the votes during the 12 June presidential election, but the opposition claims there was widespread fraud. | President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected with almost two-thirds of the votes during the 12 June presidential election, but the opposition claims there was widespread fraud. |
| Power play? | Power play? |
| Guardian Council spokesman Abbasali Khadkhodai said a "careful examination" of the 646 complaints from the three candidates had begun. | Guardian Council spokesman Abbasali Khadkhodai said a "careful examination" of the 646 complaints from the three candidates had begun. |
| "We decided to personally invite the esteemed candidates and those who have complaints regarding the election to take part in an extraordinary session of the Guardian Council on Saturday," he said. | "We decided to personally invite the esteemed candidates and those who have complaints regarding the election to take part in an extraordinary session of the Guardian Council on Saturday," he said. |
| ANALYSIS Jim Muir, Former BBC Tehran correspondent | ANALYSIS Jim Muir, Former BBC Tehran correspondent |
| The crisis in Iran has moved far beyond a dispute over election results. It has turned into a struggle over the balance of power in the country, and Iran's future orientation. | The crisis in Iran has moved far beyond a dispute over election results. It has turned into a struggle over the balance of power in the country, and Iran's future orientation. |
| That balance is being fought over in a symbiotic struggle that is taking place both behind the political scenes and, through rival displays of people power, on the streets of Tehran and other cities. | That balance is being fought over in a symbiotic struggle that is taking place both behind the political scenes and, through rival displays of people power, on the streets of Tehran and other cities. |
| Years of contradictions have come to a head in the current crisis. | Years of contradictions have come to a head in the current crisis. |
| The Iranian leadership has in the past shown ingenuity and flexibility in facing serious challenges. | The Iranian leadership has in the past shown ingenuity and flexibility in facing serious challenges. |
| This is probably greater than any, and it goes to the heart of the system. It is unlikely to be easily or quickly resolved. | This is probably greater than any, and it goes to the heart of the system. It is unlikely to be easily or quickly resolved. |
| Crisis to decide Iran's future | Crisis to decide Iran's future |
| It is not known if the three candidates have accepted the invitation. | It is not known if the three candidates have accepted the invitation. |
| The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says the candidates are unlikely to be wildly optimistic about the outcome. The Guardian Council - made up of six clerics and six lawyers - is traditionally loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. | The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says the candidates are unlikely to be wildly optimistic about the outcome. The Guardian Council - made up of six clerics and six lawyers - is traditionally loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. |
| The council earlier this week said it would carry out a partial recount, but had ruled out a re-run of the poll demanded by Mr Mousavi. | The council earlier this week said it would carry out a partial recount, but had ruled out a re-run of the poll demanded by Mr Mousavi. |
| However, opposition supporters are likely to be more encouraged by a statement from the Assembly of Experts - Iran's top clerical body responsible for appointing the supreme leader and, in theory, monitoring his performance. | However, opposition supporters are likely to be more encouraged by a statement from the Assembly of Experts - Iran's top clerical body responsible for appointing the supreme leader and, in theory, monitoring his performance. |
| "We congratulate the excited, epic-making and alert presence of 85% of the revolutionary people" in the election, the statement said. | "We congratulate the excited, epic-making and alert presence of 85% of the revolutionary people" in the election, the statement said. |
| It made no mention of the disputed result. | It made no mention of the disputed result. |
| The Assembly of Experts is headed by former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who is a strong supporter of Mr Mousavi and a key rival of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. | The Assembly of Experts is headed by former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who is a strong supporter of Mr Mousavi and a key rival of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. |
| The question now, our correspondent says, is whether Mr Rafsanjani will make his power play, and possibly challenge the supreme leader himself. | The question now, our correspondent says, is whether Mr Rafsanjani will make his power play, and possibly challenge the supreme leader himself. |
| 'No compromise' | 'No compromise' |
| Thousands of people were attending the latest protest rally in Tehran on Thursday after Mr Mousavi urged them to turn out in black in memory of those shot by members of the pro-government Basij volunteer militia on Monday. | Thousands of people were attending the latest protest rally in Tehran on Thursday after Mr Mousavi urged them to turn out in black in memory of those shot by members of the pro-government Basij volunteer militia on Monday. |
| There are about two or three thousand people here, all sitting in silence in the big courtyard inside the shrine. Police won't do anything because we are in a holy site Ali, protester in Shiraz | There are about two or three thousand people here, all sitting in silence in the big courtyard inside the shrine. Police won't do anything because we are in a holy site Ali, protester in Shiraz |
| Mr Mousavi, wearing a black shirt and suit, addressed the crowd with a loudspeaker, witnesses told news agencies. | Mr Mousavi, wearing a black shirt and suit, addressed the crowd with a loudspeaker, witnesses told news agencies. |
| The protesters had gathered in Imam Khomenei Square and marched north to central Tehran. Some held aloft pictures of those who died. | The protesters had gathered in Imam Khomenei Square and marched north to central Tehran. Some held aloft pictures of those who died. |
| The BBC's Marcus George in Tehran says there was little sign of pro-government militia squads but supporters of Mr Mousavi have been telling each other to stick closely together for better protection. | The BBC's Marcus George in Tehran says there was little sign of pro-government militia squads but supporters of Mr Mousavi have been telling each other to stick closely together for better protection. |
| Witnesses told AFP news agency the protesters were chanting "Peace be upon (the Prophet) Muhammad and his family" and were carrying placards with such slogans as "We have not had people killed to compromise and accept a doctored ballot box". | Witnesses told AFP news agency the protesters were chanting "Peace be upon (the Prophet) Muhammad and his family" and were carrying placards with such slogans as "We have not had people killed to compromise and accept a doctored ballot box". |
| Reporter Marie Colvin of the UK's Sunday Times newspaper told the BBC from Tehran that both sides seemed to be trying to avoid major clashes but the situation was "a tinder-box, very edgy, so it's very hard to predict". | Reporter Marie Colvin of the UK's Sunday Times newspaper told the BBC from Tehran that both sides seemed to be trying to avoid major clashes but the situation was "a tinder-box, very edgy, so it's very hard to predict". |
| EBRAHIM YAZDI Former aide to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of the 1979 revolutionFormer deputy prime minister and the Islamic Republic's first foreign ministerNow leader of the banned but tolerated pro-democracy Freedom Movement of IranAged around 76 and in ill health How Iran is ruled Mid-East press sees "real test" | EBRAHIM YAZDI Former aide to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of the 1979 revolutionFormer deputy prime minister and the Islamic Republic's first foreign ministerNow leader of the banned but tolerated pro-democracy Freedom Movement of IranAged around 76 and in ill health How Iran is ruled Mid-East press sees "real test" |
| She said a Wall Street Journal colleague had been "interviewing a young man on the street the other night, and one of the militiamen came up and put a bullet through his neck and killed him". | She said a Wall Street Journal colleague had been "interviewing a young man on the street the other night, and one of the militiamen came up and put a bullet through his neck and killed him". |
| Iranians have continued to tell the BBC of their involvement in the protests. | Iranians have continued to tell the BBC of their involvement in the protests. |
| One, Ali, was taking part in a silent sit-in at a shrine in Shiraz, south-western Iran, to remember those killed. | One, Ali, was taking part in a silent sit-in at a shrine in Shiraz, south-western Iran, to remember those killed. |
| "There are about two or three thousand people here, all sitting in silence in the big courtyard inside the shrine. Police won't do anything because we are in a holy site." | "There are about two or three thousand people here, all sitting in silence in the big courtyard inside the shrine. Police won't do anything because we are in a holy site." |
| In a counter-rally outside the prosecutor's office in Tehran on Thursday, hard-line students protested against the role of Mr Rafsanjani and his family. | In a counter-rally outside the prosecutor's office in Tehran on Thursday, hard-line students protested against the role of Mr Rafsanjani and his family. |
| Mr Rafsanjani's daughter, Faezeh, addressed supporters of Mr Mousavi on Tuesday. | Mr Rafsanjani's daughter, Faezeh, addressed supporters of Mr Mousavi on Tuesday. |
| The Fars news agency said on Thursday that Faezeh and her brother Mehdi had been barred from leaving Iran over their alleged role in the unrest. | |
| Mr Mousavi and reformist former President Mohammad Khatami have sent a joint letter to the head of the judiciary asking for an end to "the violent actions against people and to free those arrested". | Mr Mousavi and reformist former President Mohammad Khatami have sent a joint letter to the head of the judiciary asking for an end to "the violent actions against people and to free those arrested". |
| Iranian authorities have rounded up pro-reform figures and tried to further muzzle web sites and social networks used by opposition supporters to broadcast information and images of events in Tehran. | Iranian authorities have rounded up pro-reform figures and tried to further muzzle web sites and social networks used by opposition supporters to broadcast information and images of events in Tehran. |
| Ebrahim Yazdi, a foreign minister after the 1979 revolution and now leader of the Freedom Movement of Iran, was arrested while undergoing tests at a hospital in Tehran, a spokesman for his organisation said. | Ebrahim Yazdi, a foreign minister after the 1979 revolution and now leader of the Freedom Movement of Iran, was arrested while undergoing tests at a hospital in Tehran, a spokesman for his organisation said. |
| On Friday, Iranians will be listening closely to the address of Ayatollah Khamenei, who is due to deliver the sermon at Friday prayers. | On Friday, Iranians will be listening closely to the address of Ayatollah Khamenei, who is due to deliver the sermon at Friday prayers. |
| Heavy restrictions have been placed on the BBC and other foreign news organisations. Reporters are not allowed to cover unauthorised gatherings or move around freely in Tehran - but there are no controls over what they can write or say. | Heavy restrictions have been placed on the BBC and other foreign news organisations. Reporters are not allowed to cover unauthorised gatherings or move around freely in Tehran - but there are no controls over what they can write or say. |
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