Uneasy Calm Follows Violence In Tehran

Opposition Leader Calls For Restraint Despite Deaths; Dueling Rallies Continue

(CBS)  The streets of Iran's capital were mostly quiet today, but the crisis over the disputed presidential election is far from over.

Among the latest developments: Opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi called on his supporters to continue their protests; the government arrested and later released the daughter of former president Rafsanjani; and a Newsweek reporter has been detained.

Today's relative peace followed a day of bloodshed in the heart of Tehran, as CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports.

It was a calm enforced by an intimidating security presence on the streets. As people absorbed the shock of yesterday's violence, Iranian State TV announced that 13 people had been killed in clashes between security forces and protestors.

While the blogosphere hummed with new images of confrontation and casualties, one became instantly iconic - Neda, said to be a 16-year-old girl shot dead in Tehran, surrounded by those trying in vain to save her.

The last cell phone video image of her bleeding face was quickly made into an electronic poster, seen on social networking Ineternet services worldwide.

But President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad didn't mention the violence when he showed up on television Sunday.

His message to a group of clerics was that the election had proved the Iranian people's love for the regime.

As the frenzied Ahmadinejad election rallies clearly showed - the President does have genuine and passionate core support.

But millions of Iranians dislike him just as passionately. That's what drove them into the opposition camp. From defeated candidate Mousavi, there was a carefully worded statement:

"Protesting against lies and fraud is your right," said a notice on his Web site. "Today the country mourns for those killed. Remain calm."

As a sign of the colossal power struggle going on at the top of Iran's regime, a previously untouchable figure - the daughter of Grand Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani was detained overnight.

Rafsanjani is the most powerful of the opposition movement's backers.

While his daughter was released, scores of other human rights activists, bloggers, reporters and protestors remain in detention after a wave of arrests that began last week.

[TheMasses0004]

it's not about Iran, it's about FREEDOM.
--------------------
Here! Here!

[cbsantispin]

Americans represent and are Freedom incarnate. Born Free, Americans like others in the West must help where we can when others cry out and demand Freedom like we enjoy, it's who we are, it's what we're about, it's what we've always been about, Freedom is a part of our DNA. We help others become free where we can, the best way we can. Americans ignoring calls for freedom is like a Fire Department ignoring a fire alarm. We help the best way we can. Never forget who we are. Freedom is bigger than Iran, it's not about Iran, it's about FREEDOM.

[Sloughfoot]

Children, children, children you're using such big words and such complex sentences that you are confusing yourself. Perhaps you should go back to "See spot run".

[hungry1968-15]

by TryTakingMyMoney June 21, 2009 8:47 PM PDT
Yeah, our liberal messiah is confused on what to say, why? Is it because he is still waiting for an opening to engage in diplomacy with Iran "without preconditions" and "Seeking some kind of comprehensive settlement with Iran to make progress". So...let get this straight, the Iranian citizens are giving their lives for a sliver of freedom, democracy, and peace with the US. Yet their government, knowing they have disarmed their citizens, are beating them to a pulp, taking some head shots, promoting terrorism, and still wants a nuclear bomb so they can kill millions. All this while our socialist messiah votes present? WAKE UP AMERICA!






You're probably one of those twisted and demented neo cons that believed just two weeks ago, that ALL of Iran was an evil and vile nation that needed to be obliterated - just like McSame and Graham.

Now you have a pathetic and weak attempt to try and attack Obama on an issue, (something that you were undoubtedly told by the Fox news talking heads, because you're not smart enough to think for yourself), and you use it like a club to try and beat Obama on a policy issue?

You neo cons need to go back to the drawing board - your policies have failed for decades, and this issue is NO EXCEPTION.

[TryTakingMyMoney]

Yeah, our liberal messiah is confused on what to say, why? Is it because he is still waiting for an opening to engage in diplomacy with Iran "without preconditions" and "Seeking some kind of comprehensive settlement with Iran to make progress". So...let get this straight, the Iranian citizens are giving their lives for a sliver of freedom, democracy, and peace with the US. Yet their government, knowing they have disarmed their citizens, are beating them to a pulp, taking some head shots, promoting terrorism, and still wants a nuclear bomb so they can kill millions. All this while our socialist messiah votes present? WAKE UP AMERICA!

[omded]

So, what should he do? Should he order an invasion? Maybe we can get another 4300 soldiers killed and countles more maimed for life! Then we can set up another joke of a government that can only accomplish something when bribes are involved! There's nothing that a U.S. President can't solve by ordering an invasion!

[hungry1968-15]

by thusspokezara June 21, 2009 8:42 PM PDT
Want to know why Mr. Obama has been having fecal incontinence these last few days? He is beginning to realize that he will not be able to deal with the Iranians through negotiations, but only through confrontation. That is why. If he won't do it, the Israelis will.







You're a moron to believe that violence is the only option.

What exactly are you going to do with the MILLIONS of people that are protesting their government's elections being stolen? Kill them too?

[TryTakingMyMoney]

This is what happens when governments disarm their citizens. Americans be thankful you live in a county where gun ownership keeps this crap in check. Continue to fight to hold on to our precious 2nd amendment so this will never happen here. Everyone be rest assured, our government can blab all they want about what their going to do, what their going to change, try moving us to socialism etc. but at the end of the day they know they can only push so far. You will never see a beat down in the US like you see in Iran because...we have weapons. Don't ever forget what our forefathers gave us.

[omded]

Another very good reason to be thankful you have the right to gun ownership is that, if any religious group tries to sieze control of our government, we can blow all their heads off. Just let the "right wing Christians" try to turn our country into another Iran. We'll blow all their filthy worthless heads off. Our guns also keep us free from religious tyranny.

[hungry1968-15]

by summarex June 21, 2009 8:26 PM PDT
Imagine for a minute that McCain had refused to accept that he lost by a landslide and had instead urged Republican and other supporters to go out and riot, causing 20 or more of them to get killed, all in the hope of somehow forcing the government to overturn the results. What opinion of McCain would most of us hold today?

Unless it becomes obvious that there was indeed fraud, and that it was severe enough to affect the outcome, then Mr Mousawi is a dangerous and murderous demagogue who should be subjected to swift and stern justice.






Tens of millions of HAND WRITTEN ballots, from across the entire country, were "counted" in 3 hours. and Ahmadinejahd won in a "landslide"?

Even in Mousavi's hometown where MOST people said that they voted for him, and Mousavi only got 10% of the vote despite being immensely popular there?

You're a clown to believe this election wasn't stolen.

[thusspokezara]

Want to know why Mr. Obama has been having fecal incontinence these last few days? He is beginning to realize that he will not be able to deal with the Iranians through negotiations, but only through confrontation. That is why. If he won't do it, the Israelis will.

[omded]

Hi God! I didn't know you were going by the name "Zara" now! Welcome to the message board! So what's the best way to cure fecal incontinence? It seems to me that, rather than using your military to attack someone, it would be a whole lot easier to just insert your finger up your anus - kind of like a cork!

[summarex]

Imagine for a minute that McCain had refused to accept that he lost by a landslide and had instead urged Republican and other supporters to go out and riot, causing 20 or more of them to get killed, all in the hope of somehow forcing the government to overturn the results. What opinion of McCain would most of us hold today?

Unless it becomes obvious that there was indeed fraud, and that it was severe enough to affect the outcome, then Mr Mousawi is a dangerous and murderous demagogue who should be subjected to swift and stern justice.

[thusspokezara]

Hillary, I thought you were recovering from surgery. What are you doing online?

[1notrub11]

Fair enough what you state. However, in this country most of the responses I was aware of following the election would not have backed such a McCain claim, even if he had made it. I think there is a big difference between a very large segment of the population not appearing to believe the results and the candidate not believing the results. The former appears to be the case here.
Thus, I am not ready to buy your second statement at all. I think it's less of an issue in having the results overturned - but rather a challenge that the vote be recounted, taking a more appropriate amount of time to handle the "volume" of the count.

[YrSoWrong]

What a relief that the Ayatollahs and Mr. Ahmadinejad have their supporters in times of crisis. As for Mr. Mousawi's, you wrote demagogue, but perhaps you meant synagogue?

[thusspokezara]

Obama is the latest incarnation of the Golden Calf. Idols are silent.

[omded]

Boy, aren't we all glad our last President wasn't "silent", or, as despido says "indecisive" and "hesitant"? Nosiree Sir! Our last President rounded up all of our troops and ordered an ivasion! We lost over 4300 soldiers' lives, and permanently maimed and disfigured several thousand more! And, as if that wasn't enough reason to mount another invasion, we're still dealing with the mess we created with our last one! Yeah, doggonit Mr. President!!! Get off your duff and make a quick, rash, foolish move, just like our last President did!!! Rush to a conclusion! You can always leave the problems it creates to the next administration!!!

[gravyboat3000]

"his response", was, "observant".

As in, watching and waiting...

What would you have him do?

Midge...

[despido]

You mean 'indecisive' and 'hesitant'? As in only responding after criticism and questions mounted... Or... Completely over-whelmed, taken by surprise and waiting for someone to load his teleprompter?

[despido]

Gotta be impressed with Obama's lightening fast, no-bull response.... after all, its only been a week. Now, what was his response again?

[nujohnlee]

What should he do? "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb-bomb Iran?" as McCain joked? If Obama says anything more, then those in power will use that as proof the US is behind the demonstrations, and be even more cruel to the demostrators.
This is an internal issue in Iran. It is NOT our business to get involved any more than we have any more than any country to get involved in OUR elections.
I don't see your idea up there ace.