Since the 2004 election was the first one that I was truly engaged in, and was both shocked and demoralized by the outcome, I couldn't help making the comparison. The demographics seem to be largely the same. Also, the reports of possible voter fraud reminded me of both 2004 and 2000. That, of course, brought Jimmy Carter to mind, but I also thought of how preposterous and ironic that would be. If voter fraud is possible in the US, what hope is there for Iran? :shrug: :banghead:
And it's certainly true that Iranians aren't taking this in stride, have taken to the streets resulting in increasing violent clashes. Makes me fear for the protesters... :scared: ;(
<snip>
However, the official result, which gave Mr Ahmadinejad a resounding victory - 63% of the vote against 34% for Mr Mousavi - brought the worst violence seen in Tehran for a decade, correspondents said.
The BBC's John Simpson saw secret policemen being attacked and chased away by protesters, which he says is extremely rare.
Some of the protesters in Tehran wore Mr Mousavi's campaign colour of green and chanted "Down with the dictator", news agencies report.
Four police motorbikes were set on fire near the interior ministry, where votes had been counted, our correspondent says.
One BBC News website reader, Xenia, went to Vanak Square in Tehran to express anger and said police fired plastic bullets.
"They fired tear gas to scare us away, but it would only be temporarily. We would hide in some corner and then re-emerge angrier than ever."<snip>
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8099115.stm