Teheran (AsiaNews/Agencies) – At least seven people were killed in protests Ahmadinejad’s re-election late yesterday evening. Iranian radio reports the 7 people died in an assault on a military vehicle, but other sources say the dead are 12. Meanwhile the Guardian Council, ready to review the election results, has described the outcome that gave victory to Ahmadinejad as “provisional”. The opposition led by Hossein Moussavi had asked the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to review the vote count, amid accusations of fraud. Three days ago Khamenei had announced the victory of Ahmadinejad to a “divine decree”. But charges of fraud have led to unrestrained protests by students, culminating in the hundreds of thousands of people who peaceful took to the streets of Tehran yesterday accusing Ahmadinejad and demanding the proclamation of the real president, Hossein Moussavi. The demonstration had been banned by the Ministry for Internal Affairs. Moussavi and Kharrubi, both apparently defeated in the presidential elections, also took part. Moussavi spoke to the crowd for the first time since the elections.
Yesterday evening UN secretary General Ban Ki-moon, expressed his concern over the Iranian election results. “When there is an election - he said - the genuine will of the people should be reflected and respected in the most transparent and fair and objective manner”.
Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama says he is "deeply troubled" by the post-election violence in Iran. "The democratic process, free speech, the ability of people to peacefully dissent - he said - all those are universal values and need to be respected”.
Meanwhile, President Ahadinejad left today for Yekaterinburg (Russia), to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Sco) summit, where Iran has observer status. His flight was programmed for yesterday. Speaking to journalists he did not mention the Tehran protests against his re-election. In precedence he had compared the demonstration to those of football fans who see their favourite team loose.