'Silent wave' - Vigil in San Francisco

Pictures by Daniela Kantorova

News in brief

Suu Kyi trial verdict delayed. A Burmese court has delayed it's decision in the trial of Aung San suu Kyi until 11th August. The pro-democracy leader is accused of breaching the terms of her house arrest by allowing a US man to stay in her home. Judges in the case say they need more time to reach their decision but a guilty verdict is widely expected.



New Zealanders vote on smacking law. A postal referendum is being held in New Zealand on the country's anti-smacking laws. The law introduced in 2007 has divided opinion in the country. Voters are asked "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?". The law was seen as a step in lowering high child abuse rates.

Car bombs hit Baghdad mosques. A series of car bombs have hit five Shia mosques in the Iraqi capital killing at least 27 and injuring 60 others. The explosives were detonated as worshipers were leaving Friday prayers. The attack is the most deadly in recent weeks and comes one month after US troops withdrew from Iraqi cities.

Gaza war was 'necessary, says Israel. An Israeli government report into the war said it was bot 'necessary and proportionate'. According to the report 100 inquries were launched into the conduct of soldiers in the conflict. The war has been widely criticised with both sides accused of war crimes.

'Silent wave' - Silent vigil in Union Square Park, New York

Pictures by Jehangir Irani

A silent vigil has taken place in Union Square Park, New York city in memory of Neda Agha-Soltan and other Iranian protestors killed in recent demonstrations.

The vigil was held from 7:30-9:30pm in New York's Union Square Park and was attended by several hundred people. Participants held placards with a picture of Neda Agha-Soltan's face in front of there own. Some protestors brought roses and lit candles at the vigil. The event was held largely in silence, which was finally broken at 9.30pm by a saxophonist.


The silent vigil was part of a series of memorial events helf yesterday, including flashmobs in Vienna, Austria and Disneyland Plaza, California. Organisers of the 'silent wave' also planned a two minute silence along with vigils in other cities and in London a lone protestor observed a silence in Trafalgar Square.

'Silent wave' - Freeze flashmob in Disneyland Plaza, California

A flashmob froze for two minutes in memorial of those killed in post-election protest in Iran.

The flashmob was part of a series of events taking place around the globe in memorial of dead Iranian protestors. Other events took place in Vienna and New York as well as a lone protestor in London's Trafalgar Square.

Organiser of the event, Twitter user 'Greenthumbnails, said the event was "was a successful endeavor". At least 30 people took part in the freeze lasting two minutes outside California's Disneyland theme park. A supporter of the event said "we have so much freedom we take it for granted. That’s why Disneyland is the ideal place. It’s an iconic location."

Greentumbnails said he had organised the freeze because "I recently realized that we take our freedom for granted, and owe the people of iran a debt that i can never repay for enlightening me." He added that "by participating in this event, we hope to show the people that are ‘actually doing something’ that we are willing to take time from our day to gather and think about them.

News in brief

Car bomb in Majorca kills two. The bomb, blamed on separatist group ETA, killed two members of the Civil Guard. The islands ports and airports have been closed in an attempt to apprehend the perpetrators.


At least 600 killed in Nigerian violence. Fighting between an Islamic sect and government forces in the North West of the country has killed more than 600 people over the last five days. Eyewitnesses now report that most of the fighting in the area has ceased.

H1N1 vaccine for 130 million Americans. A US government advisory body has said that half of all US citizens fall into the high priority category and will require the vaccine. The vaccine, currently undergoing tests in Australia, should be ready for a 'vaccine campaign' to begin in mid-October. In the event of insufficient supplies of the jabs, tighter criteria will be assigned to high risk.

Aung San Suu Kyi verdict to be announced Friday. Despite calls for the release of Suu Kyi, a guilty verdict is expected. Her supporters were warned against any protests by state media, who said "we have to ward off subversive elements and disruptions".

Iran 40 day anniversary - Tehran at a standstill

This video is thought to show events in Tehran today, however this is impossible to verify as foreign media are banned from reporting on opposition demonstrations and many international journalists have been expelled. The video shows how protestors stopped in the streets causing the roads to come to a standstill. Demonstrators left their cars, some standing on their roofs, and shouted ant-government slogans. Even the voice of a young child, close to the camera, can be heard chanting "death to the dictator".

Elsewhere in Tehran, 40,000 opposition supporters attending the memorial ceremony at the grave of Neda Agha-Soltan have clashed with police. Other small clashes have been reported across the city and sources claim that the police have used batons and teargas against protestors. Some reports say that shots have been fired by the governtment Basij militia.

'Silent wave' - Still and silent flashmob in Vienna

A flashmob in Vienna has become one of the first events in memorial of those killed in Iran's post-election protests.

The event was part of a series planned to mark the 40 day anniversary of the deaths of many protestors including Neda Agha-Soltan. Organisers of the 'silent wave' have also arranged a 2 minute silence to be observed internationally.

The flash mob in Vienna had 25 participants, after being organised at fairly short notice. Those involved wore black and carried roses and at 6.30pm they dropped to the floor, lieing on the still and silent for 2 minutes.

In Iran, opposition supporters clashed with police when they tried to visit the grave of Neda Agha-Soltan and hold a memorial service. Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi had applied for a permit for the event but the request was declined by Iran's interioir ministry.

Susan Macaulay held a lone protest earlier today in London's Trafalgar square, however, police moved her on as demonstrations in the square require a permit. A candlelit vigil is also planned in New York's Union Square Park at 6.30pm as well as a 'freeze flash mob' in Disneyland Plaza, California also at 6.30pm. Other events are planned in the UN Plaza, San Francisco and outside the Federal Building, Los Angeles.

More information on the 'silent wave' can be found at silentwave.info

Iran 40 day anniversary - Latest videos from Tehran

These videos are believed to show events today but as foreign media are heavily restricted from reporting on the demontrations this is impossible to verify. The first video apparently shows oppostition supporters participating in a mourning rally for the protests who have been killed. Today is the 40 day anniversary, significant in Islamic tradition, of the death of Neda Agha-Soltan along with many other protestors.

The second video appears to show other opposition supporters, elsewhere in Tehran, being beaten by police, gunshots or teargas can be heard.

This video shows more protestors on the streets of Tehran.

More reports of rights abuses in Iranian prisons

More accusations of human rights abuses have emerged by those who were detained during the recent unrest in Iran.

Political prisoners have alleged several abuses which has lead Iran's Supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, to order the closure of Kahrizak Detention Centre located, South of Tehran after it failed to "preserve the rights of detainees".

Former inmates at the Kahrizak Detention Centre claim that they were forced to strip and were then whipped with electrical cables. One detainee reportedly went blind and died, after suffering extensive trauma to the head whilst held in the prison. Many inmates say that they were crammed into small cells with no access to sanitation. Reports say that Tehran’s Police Chief, Ibrahim Reza Radan, had personally tortured prisoners using a plastic hose.

In other prisons, reports say a female detainee was forced to confess after being beaten, tortured and touched inappropiatley by male interrogators. Another prisoner claimed that he had been forced to lick the commode of a toilet and had been beaten repeatedly.

Sources say that prison guards who refuse to beat and torture the political prisoners are reprimanded.

Multiple websites claim that the number of people killed in detention has reached 78 and one site has published a list of 171 dead, who it says were killed during the protests. Most sources have confirmed around 20 deaths with some reporting 30 whilst opposition supporters have alleged the number is nearer 100.

News in brief

Heavy rain hits the UK, causing some localised flooding. Campers in the Lake District found their tents submerged and many were evacuated from the campsites. The Met Office says that their prediction of a 'barbecue summer' is now unlikely.

Tweeter in libel lawsuit. A twitter user is being sued for defamation by Horizon Group Management after she used the site to complain about mould in her rented Chicago apartment. Her tweet said "Who said sleeping in a mouldy apartment was bad for you? Horizon really thinks it's okay."


Yahoo! and Microsoft have joined together to take on rival search engine, Google. Microsoft will power Yahoo!'s search engine and in return Yahoo! will become advertisers for Microsoft's online services.



China is to cut the number of executions to "an extremely small number". A senior court official said that the country would impose more suspended death sentences. China carries out more executions than any other country but has already begun to take steps to reduce this number. However, the court offical said "it is impossible...to abolish capital punishment".

'Silent wave' planned for Iran protest dead

A worldwide 'silent wave' has been planned for protestors who were killed in post-election unrest.

Twitter users began organising the 2 minute silence, which will take place on Thursday 30th July at 11am or 6.30pm local time, on Sunday. Since then the event has spread across the internet spawning facebook pages and its own website.

The 2 minute silence will mark the 40 day anniversary, a significant date in Islamic tradition, since the deaths of many opposition supporters in the demonstrations. This two minute silence comes six weeks after protests first began following the country's disputed presidential elections, which drew hundreds of thousands to the streets of Tehran. The number of people killed in the protests is unknown, most reports suggest the number is around 20. However, some reformists claim the number is nearer 100 whilst one websites lists 171 dead.

Other events have been organised in memorial of those killed in demonstrations including a silent vigil in Union Square Park, New York at 7:30-9:30pm. Also a two minute 'freeze' is organised for Disneyland Plaza, California, where a 'flash mob' will stop moving for two minutes at 6.30pm. Silentwave.info says that those wishing to take part in the 'freeze' in Disneyland Plaza should "not bring flyers, signs, or anything that would make you stand out from anyone else spending their day at the happiest place on earth.".

Iran opposition leaders, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi, had planned to hold a memorial ceremony in Tehran's Grand Mosalla Prayer Halls, however, their permit request to the Interior Ministry was denied. A spokesperson for the ministry told the Fars news agency that "Memorial ceremonies are considered to be private issues of citizens and any request for such ceremonies from the interior ministry has obvious political overtones".

Sunbeds definitely "carcinogenic to humans"

An international cancer research agency has said there is no doubt that sunbeds or lamps cause skin cancer.

The report published in the Lancet Oncology says that sunbeds are definitely "carcinogenic to humans" and are now assessed as being equally as dangerous as smoking and exposure to asbestos.

Previously the International Agency for Research on Cancer said that sunbeds and sunlamps were "probably carcinogenic to humans". However, campaigners hope that the new assessment of sunbed dangers will encourage tighter regulation of the industry.

Research says that the risk of a melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, increases by 75% in those who begin using tanning beds before the age of 30.

Cancer Research UK blames sunbeds for quadrupling of skin cancer cases in 30 years and the number of patients with melanomas topping 10,000 last year. However the UK's Sunbed Association said that there was no proven link between the responsible use of sunbeds and skin cancer.

Bomb explodes outside Spanish police barracks

A car bomb has exploded outside a police barracks in the Northern Spanish city of Burgos.

The attack, blamed on Basque separatist group ETA, slightly injured 46 people and caused the barrack's facade to collapse.

The bomb detonated at around 4:30am local time outside a barracks of the paramilitary Guardia Civil, where the families of officers were staying. The majority of the injuries were caused by flying glass and 38 people required hospital treatment. Most of the 48 injured suffered only minor cuts and bruises, said emergency services.

"All the windows are broken. It's very damaged so it's almost a miracle no one was hurt more seriously," said an emergency services spokesman.

ETA has been held responsible for the bombing despite the lack of the group's trademark phone call before detonating explosives. The separatist group is thought to be responsible for the deaths of around 800 people across Spain in a long campaign of attacks. The organisation, typically attacking police and army targets, aims to achieve an independent Basque homeland in Northern Spain and Southern France.

ETA was most recently blamed for the death of police inspector in Bilbao when his car was booby-trapped. In April, Spanish police arrested Jurdan Martitegi, a suspected top commander of ETA, along with 18 other members in June and July.

Iran releases 140 political prisoners

Iranian officials have announced that 140 prisoners, arrested during recent demonstrations, have been released from jail.

Sources say that the surprising announcement demonstrates the pressure that Ayatollah Khamenei and Iran's other leaders are under.

Their release comes amid allegations of abuses and torture by several former detainees as well as the deaths of two held in Evin prison. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently closed one detention centre as it failed to "preserve the rights of detainees".

An Iranian official, speaking to Iranian news agencies, said that "Those who were released had committed lighter offences.", while 200 other prisoners accused of more serious crimes are being still held.

Mr Jalali, quoted by the Fars news agency, said that those who remained in detention were susupected of were suspected of carrying weapons and bombs and vandalising property during the demonstrations. Judical officials alledged that 50 currently held were "agents of the unrest and some of them were members of anti-revolutionary groups,".

Opposition supporters claim that the true number being held far exceeds the official figures and that the number of dead is closer to 100 than the confirmed 20 deaths.

Iran refuses permit for memorial rally

Iranian authorities have refused to issue a permit to Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi for a memorial rally planned for Thursday 30 July.

Iran's Interior Minister, Abbaszadeh-Meshkini, told the Fars News Agency "Memorial ceremonies are considered to be private issues of citizens and any request for such ceremonies from the interior ministry has obvious political overtones".

This Thursday marks the 40 day anniversary of the death of at least 20 demonstrators including 'angel of the protests', Neda Agha-Soltan. In Islamic tradition the dead are remembered 3, 7 and 40 days after their death and opposition politicians had planned a memorial ceremony at Tehran's Grand Mosalla Prayer Halls.

Speaking about his plans for Thursday, he said "we don’t want to do anything. We will not have speeches. We just want to use this Mosalla for mourning… so allow us to gather only to recite the Koran,”.

An official at Iran's Interior Ministry said "We have received a request signed... by two presidential election candidates who were not popular amongst the majority of voters asking, as two individuals, for a permit to hold a memorial service for those who were killed in the post-election incidents.". He continued to say that the request had be declined.

On Sunday, twitter users began planning a 2 minute silence in memory of those that had been killed in the protests . The event is planned for Thursday 30 July at 11am and 6.30pm (local time) and has been planned to achieve maximum global participation. The protest has spread rapidly online, becoming the subject of numerous tweets and spawning its own website (http://silentwave.info/) and facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129068429275).

"With Peace Comes Freedom-With Freedom Comes Peace" by Mehdi Saharkhiz

An article by Mehdi Saharkhiz, son of Iranian journalist and political activist Isa Saharkhiz.

"I am Mehdi Saharkhiz, Proud son of the journalist and political activist Isa Saharkhiz. He is in jail for speaking his mind in opposition to the dictators that hijacked the elections in Iran. He was kidnapped in a way that his ribs were broken, he is kept in solitary confinement in an undisclosed location. My dad dedicated his life in order to depose the Shah and help with the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran—a republic that was supposed to be free and respect peoples’ votes, voices, and opinions. My father spent years fighting Saddam whom had illegally entered Iran’s sovereign land and imposed a war against the Iranian people. He fought alongside his brother, my uncle, Saeed who was eventually killed in the war, and millions of other brave Iranians. He fought for my rights. He fought for the rights of Iranians. They rewarded him by putting him behind bars in solitary confinement.

In his post-election press-conference, Ahmadinejad said “We have close to absolute freedom in Iran” and he called upon Western powers to learn from the democracy in Iran. He forgot to explain, however, how his democracy manifests itself. He did not explain how his great vision of democracy includes breaking into an opposition publishing house, taking books and other materials and vandalizing the place. Nowhere in his speech did he explain the freedom and democracy involved when four huge men walk up to a home and threatened to break in when the occupant, a terrified 19-year-old girl, says she is home alone. Mr. Ahamdinejad, is this your democracy that destroyed my father’s publishing house? Is this your freedom that terrorized my sister? For them, I must not and cannot be silent.

Perhaps your so called “freedom” is clearly shown when a general warrant is only shown to a few of those arrested? Or is it shown clearer still when they are arrested without warrant, without cause? When their only crime is standing up and speaking up in the name of true freedom and true democracy. In the name of freedom and democracy, we must not be silent.

Ahmadinejad, the price paid for your “absolute freedom” has been extremely high, and it keeps getting higher. The list of people killed keeps getting longer. Were they all killed by foreigners? Aren’t you the one responsible for protecting our country from invaders, for keeping our borders safe? How is it, then, that these foreigners can walk around our country holding guns? No one in the world believes your lies anymore. We all know Iranians are being beaten and murdered under your orders and those that support you.

Tell me, has one of your children ever been hit with a baton? Have they been arrested? Tortured? Have you felt the pain of a mother crying over her son’s body, or the tears of a father who will never see his daughter in a wedding gown? For the tears, for the pain, for our fathers, mothers, and even YOUR children, we will never be silent.

I only feel your so-called freedom when I open a government-backed newspaper or watch the state TV. Much like your government, they accuse anyone of absolutely anything based upon lies and fabrications, mostly in the name of religion.
This absolute freedom only extends to your supporters. Any publications or media that has even the faintest scent of opposition will have their every line scrutinized by your censors, their pages torn or printed white. If only these blank pages could be filled with the truth, with the tweets, emails and facebook posts from our people, the Iranian people could finally read the truth of what is going on in their own country.

Your puppet media can only come from someone with nothing better to do than to blame other countries for any and all of Iran’s ills. The mark of a true dictator, trying to deflect criticism by blaming outside influences. You have inflicted these atrocities on your own people, on your own religion.

Ahmadinejad, your claims of freedom are hollow. Just like your claim of the halo of light that was around you during your speech at the UN. Iranians and the world sees you for what you are—a dictator—and you cannot lead a democracy as a dictator. For any democracy, you need the people. When you torture and kill the people, they will not be with you but will stand up and oppose you, and the only outcome is your downfall. You and those who support you must step aside … like all the dictators before you, you WILL be swept away like “dirt and dust”.
Today millions of people all across the world stand by us. They stand with Iran and its people against murder, against oppression, and against dictatorship. Until my father is free, until my sister is no longer afraid, until all Iranians are FREE and can stand up with us in freedom and without fear, we will never be silent. We are all together, and the 'world is watching'"

Iran protests enter new phase

Following Iran's presidential election on 12th June, millions of Iranians took to the streets of the country in protest at the polls result, claiming widespread vote rigging.

Six weeks later the pro-reform movement has changed its approach to protesting in light of the government's tough crackdown on street rallies. After several deaths and numerous arrests the 'green' movement has changed its tactics to increaslingly imaginative methods of disobedience.

Protestors have began boycotting goods which are advertised on state-controlled media. An Iranian human rights activist says that the whispered phrase "Don't buy that. It's from an advertiser." is now commonly heard in shops.

Reports also say that anti-government activists are encouraging others to switch on all electrical appliances before the evening news, in order to overload Tehran's power grid. Dissidents have also published guides online of ways to down Iran's telephone network by leaving phones of the hook.

Whilst the large gatherings have now become almost impossible, so-called 'blitz' demonstrations have been reported on the streets of Iran's cities. The protests last just a few minutes and quickly disband before government militia have chance to react.

At Friday prayers in Tehran,when a prayer official said "We are all your soldiers, Khamenei! We await your orders!" his audience replied "We are all your soldiers, Mousavi! We await your orders!". Former president Rafsanjani addressed prayers at Tehran's university and when refferring to those who had recently been imprisoned, many in the crowd chanted "Political prisoners must be freed!".

Reformist activists have also used subversive artwork, which have been graffitied around the country, to spread their campaign.

The disobedience is predominantly leaderless and unorganised with most actions arranged by email or on twitter and facebook.

Mousavi steps up criticism of Ahmadinejad

Former Iranian presidential candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi, has increased his criticism of President Ahmadinejad.

In an unusually hostile speech, posted on his website, Mousavi accused the government of a series of abuses. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's 'erratic behaviour' has drawn criticism from fellow hardliners.

Mousavi said that a crucial test of Ahmadinejad's commitment would be whether they permit a mourning ceremony at Tehran's Grand Mosalla prayer halls on Thursday.

Mr Mousavi said in his speech that “We don’t want to do anything. We will not have speeches. We just want to use this Mosalla for mourning… so allow us to gather only to recite the Koran,”.

However, the authorities fear that any large gathering may escalate into an opposition demonstration. Mousavi warned that the Iranian people would not allow a regime that did not abide by the country's constitution to continue their rule.

This Thursday is the 40 day anniversary of the deaths of many of the anti-government protestors including 'Angel of the protestors', Neda Agha-Soltan. Twitter users have organised a 2 minute silence to be observed this Thursday at either 11am or 6.30pm (local time) in memory of the 'martyrs' of the protests.

Deaths and abuse in Iranian prisons

Two political prisoners have died from meningitis in Evin prison, Iran, after being arrested during the recent demonstrations. The announcement of their death coincided with allegations of abuse from several former inmates.

Mohsen Rouholamini and Amir Javadifar died of meningitis, which is believed to have been complicated by several injuries being left untreated. It is feared that there could be meningitis outbreaks in Evin as well as in other prisons, overcrowded with opposition demonstrators.

Former inmates have also alleged abusive treatment whilst they were detained. One prisoner claimed he had been "harrassed, insulted and abused". Isa Saharkhiz, a pro-reform journalist, has alleged that his ribs were broken and he was tortured during interrogation. Other detainees have claimed that they endured numerous beatings and were crammed into small cells, in temperatures topping 40C.

One prisoner said "I was beaten by batons and slapped thousands of times," and added that "they were forcing me to confess whatever they wanted,". Another said that ""I still have the screams and shouts of the prisoners in my ears, the prisoners whose legs and arms were broken,".

Rights campaigners are concerned that prisoners are being put under pressure to confess to involvement in a Western conspiracy to orchestrate the protests. It is believed that Kian Tajbakhsh, an American-Iranian scholar, is one of those being forced to make admissions.

Worldwide silence planned for Iran protest dead

Users of the social media site, twitter, have organised a two minute silence for protectors who were killed during the post-election demonstrations.

Twitter users have planned the silence to be observed at 11am or 6:30pm (local time) on Thursday 30th July. The organisers say that the silence is in memory of the 'martyrs' of the protests that have taken place across Iran. The silence has peen planned to coincide with the 40 day anniversary of the deaths of many of the protestors.

Organisers have chosen two periods of silence to maximise participation and have urged fellow twitter users to 'retweet' the event details.

This two minute silence comes over a month after protests first began following the country's disputed presidential elections. The demonstrations drew hundreds of thousands to the streets of Tehran and it is believe that 19 people were killed by government millitia.

Despite continued warnings from the Iranian authorities to end the 'illegal rallies', pro-reform demonstrators have retain a smaller presence on the streets of Tehran and other cities. The government has imposed heavy restrictions on foreign media; restricting their movement, banning them from covering demonstrations and expelling some international journalists. As a result, protestors used social media sites, including twitter, youtube and others, to send information out of Iran.

(More information about the silence can be found at http://silentwave.info/ )

41 journalists imprisoned in Iran, says RWB

Press freedom organisation, Reporters Without Borders, says that a month after Iran's disputed presidential election, 41 journalists are still being held in prisons.

Reporters without borders have expressed "great concern" about the growing repression and restrictions being placed on journalists and cyber-dissidents. They also announced the recent detention of five more journalists in the country and said that "Four of the latest five detained have been imprisoned in a secret place and like all the others their families have had no news of their condition,".

The organisation claim that Iran is "the world’s biggest prison for journalists" and that the country "is on the way to becoming the world’s most dangerous place for them to operate,".

Reporters without borders say that the recent arrests include photographer Majid Saidi, who has for several international news agencies and has reported from Afghanistan for TIME magazine. Also arrested were Tohid Bighi, a photographer for the website Mashroteh; blogger, Henghameh Shahidi; newspaper editor, Somaieh Nosrati and Said Matinpour, of the Azeri-language weekly Yarpagh.

Latest video from Iran

Reports say that further protests have taken place in Tehran on Saturday. This video is believed to show events today but as foreign media are heavily restricted from reporting on the demontrations this is impossible to verify.

In pictures - Global 'day of action' for Iran

Global protests to restore rights in Iran

Protests have taken place in more than 110 cities across the world in objection to recent human rights abuses in Iran.

The demonstrators say that Iranian authorities have committed several rights abuses in response to anti-government rallies. The protests are supported by human rights groups and international figures, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Sean Penn.

Events have taken place across the globe with demonstrations in Paris, London, Washington DC and Beirut among others. Candle lit vigils have taken place in several cities, while in others demonstrators unraveled long green banners.

Reports say that demonstrations have also taken place in Tehran but riot police dispersed the crowds. Sources say that several hundred people gathered in Tehran's Azadi square and many people stood on their balconies shouting "death to the dictator" and messages of thanks to international supporters.

Protests began after last month's presidential elections in Iran saw the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Mir Hossien Mousavi, a pro-reform presidential candidate, and his supporters along with other reformist politicians claim widespread vote rigging.