Iran Oppostion Leader Mir Hossein Mousavi 'Flees Tehran'

[tekisui]

Source: Times Online

The leader of Iran's opposition was to have fled Tehran, state media reported tonight.

Mir Hossein Mousavi, defeated in hotly disputed elections in June, was said to have left the Iranian capital on a day marked by pro-government rallies at which crowds chanted "Death to Mousavi". Another of the leaders, Mahdi Karroubi, was also said to have fled.

The news comes three days after Mr Mousavi's nephew, Ali, was killed during a protest against the regime in which at least eight lost their lives.

He was said to have been shot in the chest. Opposition figures have claimed he was deliberately targeted and had received a number of death threats.

A close relative of one of Mr Karroubi, told The Associated Press the report by the IRNA news agency was wrong and that both Mr Karroubi and Mr Mousavi, were at their homes in Tehran.

The regime has initiated a tactic of arresting relatives of opposition figures as it struggles to contain the so-called "green revolution". Those detained include the sister of the Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi and Mr Mousavi's brother-in-law.

Today's development came as Iran’s Supreme Leader acknowledged that the country’s Islamic rulers had lost some supporters in the turmoil following the disputed presidential elections.

more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6971908.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=6848605

[thewiseguy]

1. I had to unrecommend. This is propaganda by Iran's state owned media.

This news has already been rejected by the relatives of opposition members.

[lunatica]

If you unrec and claim the story is debunked

Can you provide a link please? It seems to be an ongoing story that's still developing and coming out of Iran I imagine there's a lot of propaganda.

[thewiseguy]

6. Can you read Farsi?

Otherwise I am not sure how I could give you a link.

[lunatica]

8. So does that mean you read Farsi?

When I was growing up in Mexico (I'm 61 now so it was a while back) the government was still run by the PRI party who had been in power since Porfirio Diaz's time at the turn of the Century and they controlled the media. They weren't even 'debunked' publicly but the truth always seems to have come out. Usually because people talked to each other to find out what really happens.

I don't dismiss a developing story that comes out of a Theocratic Dictatorship that masquerades as a Democracy just because someone has debunked it right away. I suspend any credibility and try to pick out what may seem to be facts as the story gets pieced together. That's why I asked for a link. To get something from the other side.

[thewiseguy]

9. Yes I can, originally from Iran here

Here is a link in Farsi if it helps...

http://www.sahamnews.org/?p=85

[Warpy]

13. Interesting, now I know where you got your sense of humor

I can't read Farsi, unfortunately, and the online translator sites are usually hilarious, although they're better than nothing.

Thanks.

[tekisui]

3. I saw that just after I posted.

I unrec too.

[Warpy]

7. Debunked by multiple sources in Iran

who all claim Masouvi and Karoubi were both arrested late last night and taken to a small town in the north of the country.

[thewiseguy]

10. Neither of them have been arrested and both are in Tehran.

[Warpy]

12. So I'm reading, now that I'm home again

having dodged snowflakes to get my prescriptions refilled because there's another damned holiday coming up.

I know most of the sources engaged in disinformation. What I posted had been put out by people who are usually reliable.

[Barack_America]

2. Already debunked all over Twitter.

1850 GMT: Mousavi Denial? It looks like Mousavi camp is also denying the IRNA story of “flight” to northern Iran, informing American ABC News that Mousavi is still in Tehran.

1840 GMT: Karroubi Denial of “Fleeing”. Mehdi Karroubi’s son Hossein has denounced reports that his father and Mir Hossein Mousavi “rumours” spread by Iranian state media. Hossein Karroubi says his father is still in Tehran “working for the people”.

http://enduringamerica.com/2009/12/30/the-latest-from-iran-30-december-towards-what/

[Barack_America]

4. Also Jim Sciutto's Twitter...

Source tells ABC Mousavi stil in Tehran and not in govt custody #iranelection
27 minutes ago from web

http://twitter.com/JimSciuttoABC

[lunatica]

5. Thanks for the link

[Don Caballero]

11. I love this guy and wish him and his family the best

Iran is a beautiful country and this man is the deserved leader. The progressive movement in Iran is alive and strong!