The protesters in Iran defied the supreme leader request to not come out on the streets of Iran, they came out on Saturday and again on Sunday. With reports of 10 more people being killed on Saturday and some reports of at least 32 people actually being killed. The protesters are being beaten and sprayed with tear gas according to the few reports coming out of the country. Most news reporters and agencies have been banned fro coverage of the protests. Protesters have come out in the United States as well, in Los Angeles, Washington, D. C., and New York, where people gathered outside the United Nations. The former President, Hashemi Rafsanjani, one of the richest and most powerful men in Iran, has challenged the supreme leader, and on Saturday, his eldest daughter, Faejah Hashemi and four unidentified relatives were arrested. Thefour relatives were reportedly released on Sunday evening, but the daughter was detained. Ms Hashemi reportedly alleged fraud in the election and was called a traitor by some hard-line students. State television also showed Ms Hashemi, 46, speaking out in support of Mir Hossein Mousavi before supporters of Mousavi. Many foreign leaders are speaking out against the government actions against the protesters. President Obama has urged Iran tho halt "all violent and unjust actions against its own people. He said in effect that the United States stands behind all who seek to exercise "universal right to assembly and free speech." German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Iran anew, to conduct a complete and transparent recount. Israeli Prime Minister Peres applauded Iran's pro-reform protesters, saying the young people should "raise their voice for freedom". England has also called for tolerance on the part of the Iranian government. The arrests of the relatives of Rafanjani is the strongest sign of a serious divide between Iran's ruling clerics, according to AP reports. Rafanjani, 76, is the head of two powerful institutions, the cleric run Assembly of Experts, which has the power to monitor and remove the supreme leader, the country's most powerful figure. The second is the Expediency Council, a body that arbitrates disputes between parliament and the un-elected Guardian Council, which can block legislation. A side note concerning the election process, Iranians brought their own pens to use as there was a report that the supporters of Mousavi were going to be given pens which contained invisible ink.
A New York Times reporter, who had been held by the Taliban, in a compound for seven months, was able to climb over a wall, reportedly with the help of some of his captors, and escape. David Rohdy, a Pulitzer Prize winner, was abducted and held captive with little press coverage. New York Times Editor, Bill Keller told an interviewer, with his family agreeing to the non-reporting of the incident by the Times, that the paper believed this was the best way to handle the situation. Mr. Keller was able to get other major news agencies to suppress the story. No ransom was paid according to Mr. Keller. He is also not discussing fully the story of the kidnapping, as he says in essence, they would be writing the playbook for the next kidnapping.
A bombing in Iraq has killed 80 people and wounded some 200 people. The worst tragedy this year, from reports.
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