Crackdown Crunches Iran Reformers -

[WillyT]

Crackdown crunches Iran reformers
Jason Koutsoukis and Anne Davies
June 15, 2009

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A SEVERE crackdown on Iran's emerging reform movement began on the weekend after incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad scored a resounding win in Friday's presidential elections.

At least 10 leaders of two reformist groups who had backed opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi were under arrest last night as police used tear gas and clubs to quell mass street protests.

A total of 170 people were arrested over the big post-election protests and street riots in Tehran.

Speaking on national television, Mr Ahmadinejad praised the Iranian people for choosing to look towards the future.

"This is a great victory at a time and condition when the whole material, political and propaganda facilities outside of Iran and sometime -- inside Iran, were mobilised against our people," he said.

The mood in the capital, Tehran, was tense as large groups of riot police patrolled the streets, moving along drivers who had been honking their horns in apparent protest.

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Link: http://www.theage.com.au/world/crackdown-crunches-iran-reformers-20090614-c7bx.html