Iranian Leaders at Odds on Election Results

(NEWSER) - Riot police swarmed around Tehran University today, dispersing anyone attempting to gather in protest with batons, shields, and pepper spray, the Washington Post reports. “There are 300 of us in a small alley, and we are under attack by dozens of security forces,” one witness reported. Others say they saw Baseej militia members beating protesters with clubs, and plainclothes police officers leading people into unmarked vans. More»

State-run TV shows reporter confessing to filing biased reports to create unrest

(NEWSER) - A Newsweek reporter who was arrested in Iran last month has confessed to filing "biased" news reports to stir unrest as part of a conspiracy to undermine the country's government, according to Iranian state-run media. Maziar Bahari made the alleged confession at a press conference Tuesday, Bloomberg reports. "As a reporter and a part of the West’s capitalistic engine, I was put on the path of creating rumors towards a colored revolution," Bahari is alleged to have said in his confession. More»

Top council makes decision

(NEWSER) - After partially recounting ballots, Iran’s top legislators have confirmed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the victor in the country’s presidential election, the BBC reports. The decision by the 12-member, conservative-controlled Guardian Council was announced on state television and follows weeks of protests in which some 17 are believed to have died. The recount found no voting irregularities, Iranian TV reported. More»

Banned for life for wristbands showing Mousavi support

(NEWSER) - Iran has barred four of its national soccer players from the field for life after they wore green wristbands during a match last week in apparent support of opposition presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, an Iranian pro-government newspaper said. Six players wore the bands; most took them off at halftime, the Guardian notes. More»

(NEWSER) - Iran's official Guardian Council has declared absolutely that the nation's controversial presidential election will stand, reports CNN. "If a major breach occurs in an election, the Guardian Council may annul the votes," said a spokesman. "Fortunately, we found no witness of major fraud or breach in the election. Therefore, there is no possibility of an annulment taking place." More»