Violence in Iran After Ahmadinejad Declared Winner of Presidential Election

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sailed to a second four-year presidential term with a huge margin of victory amid allegations of widespread fraud and a strident challenge of the Iranian vote results by his main challenger, and protesters scuffled with police in riot gear throughout Tehran in what many described as the most serious clashes in the capital since a student uprising 10 years ago.

The vote outcome, the losing candidates’ allegations of widespread fraud and the ongoing street violence may have broad consequences for U.S. foreign policy. Many advocates of talks with Tehran had pointed to boisterous crowds demonstrating for reformist candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi in the street during the campaign as signs of Iran’s dynamic political culture, democratic blossoming and potential for flexibility.

It gave 62.6 percent of the vote to Ahmadinejad and 33.75 to Mousavi — a former prime minister who has become the hero of a youth-driven movement seeking greater liberties and a gentler face for Iran abroad.

Mousavi rejected the result as rigged and urged his supporters to resist a government of “lies and dictatorship.”

“I’m warning that I won’t surrender to this manipulation,” said a statement on Mousavi’s Web site. “The outcome of what we’ve seen from the performance of officials … is nothing but shaking the pillars of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s sacred system and governance of lies and dictatorship,” it added.

Mousavi warned “people won’t respect those who take power through fraud.” The headline on one of his Web sites read: “I won’t give in to this dangerous manipulation.”

Mousavi appealed directly to Khamenei to intervene and stop what he said were violations of the law. Khamenei, who is not elected, holds ultimate political authority in Iran and controls all major policy decisions.

SOURCE: FOXNews