Iran Protesters Launch Twitter Revolution

Guardian Council makes U-turn as state radio confirms deaths

(NEWSER) - 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. More»

(NEWSER) - Shots were fired at a huge street protest in Tehran today, the BBC reports, not long after opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi addressed the gathering in spite of a ban by the Iranian government; an AP photographer says one protester was killed, and that the shots came from a compound belonging to a militia associated with Iran’s powerful revolutionary guard. More»

Maintenance reskedded to accommodate information flow

(NEWSER) - Twitter has pushed back work that would have taken the site offline to avoid disrupting the flow of information from Iran, Computer World reports. The site, which has proven to be a vital link between Iranian protesters and the rest of the world, will now be offline 2 to 3 pm Pacific time for essential maintenance, leaving the channels of communication clear during daylight hours in Tehran. More»

Twitter users blast network's paltry coverage during riots

(NEWSER) - Twitter has already become a go-to place for breaking news, but the micro-blogging site assumed the role of media watchdog over the weekend, reports the New York Times. As riots protesting Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s victory began to heat up in Tehran—and CNN aired a Larry King repeat about American Chopper rather than images of bloody students—tweets labeled #CNNFail began to fly. More»

Khamenei accedes to Mousavi's request for vote fraud investigation

(NEWSER) - Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered a probe into Iran's allegedly rigged presidential election, reports CNN. The country's supreme leader has already endorsed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's supposed victory as "a divine miracle," but Khamenei today requested that a clerical body investigate Mir Hossein Mousavi's claims of widespread fraud. The ayatollah's reversal comes amid continued reports that opposition figures are being arrested. More»