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Mousavi: I Will Die for Reform

He makes first statement since death of his nephew

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 1, 2010 6:25 AM CST

(Newser) – In his first public statement since the death of his nephew during anti-government protests, Mir Hossein Mousavi says he, too, is willing to die for the cause. "I am not afraid to die for people's demands," said a statement on his website, without mention of his nephew. He also warned that the killing or arrest of himself or other opposition leaders in Iran would not "calm the situation."

The only way to do that, he said, is for the government to accept "direct responsibility" for the chaos and put in place specific reforms, reports the BBC. These include a "transparent law" for elections, the release of political prisoners, and freedom of the press. "I say openly that until there is an acknowledgment of the existence of a serious crisis in the country, there will be no possibility of resolving the problems and issues," he said.

This undated image courtesy of Paris-based Iranian film director Mohsen Makhmalbaf shows opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, left, with his late nephew Ali Mousavi.
This undated image courtesy of Paris-based Iranian film director Mohsen Makhmalbaf shows opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, left, with his late nephew Ali Mousavi.   (AP Photo/Courtesy Mohsen Makhmalbaf)
A June file photo of Mir Hossein Mousavi.
A June file photo of Mir Hossein Mousavi.   (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)
Pro-government demonstrators chant Death to Mousavi in Tehran Wednesday.
Pro-government demonstrators chant "Death to Mousavi" in Tehran Wednesday.   (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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