Iran's Guardian Council Vows Recount as 7 Die in Protests

Guardian Council makes U-turn as state radio confirms deaths
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 16, 2009 3:50 AM CDT
Iran's Guardian Council Vows Recount as 7 Die in Protests
A student holds a banner reading ''Last night Tehran dormitory, killing fields-killing fields'' at the gate of Tehran university in Tehran yesterday.   (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

The most powerful body in Iran declared it will allow a recount in last Friday's controversial presidential election, the BBC reports. The announcement follows three days of massive protests in Tehran, in which seven people were killed. State radio claims the deaths came as protesters attacked a military post after yesterday's "illegal" rally.

The decision by the 12-member Guardian Council represents a massive reversal for the country's elite, who originally endorsed the victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and comes after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered an inquiry into ballot tampering. Supporters of opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi have vowed to continue protesting until the election results are canceled.
(More Iran stories.)

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