Chaos in Iran, suicide bomb kills 60+ in Iraq

This image taken from amateur video posted online from Tehran June 20 shows supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossien Mousavi protesting in Tehran. Eyewitnesses described fierce clashes after some 3,000 protesters, many wearing black, chanted "Death to the dictator!" and "Death to dictatorship!" near Revolution Square. (Fox News)

Ahmadinejad was declared the winner of the presidential elections last weekend, but turmoil and violence continue to rule in Iran, particularly in the capital city of Tehran.

Rallies again led to clashes between sides--Mousavi vs. Ahmadinejad supporters--and with Iranian security forces trying to control the protesters.

Although the Iranian government sent notices to journalists prohibiting them from covering the demonstrations, numerous news and witness reports, including images and video, are being leaked to the media via blogs, instant messaging and websites such as Facebook and Twitter, among other outlets, and broadcast by news networks such as CNN.

The images show streets packed with protesters and police, and instances of beatings, gunfire, wounded people lying on the ground bleeding, tear gas and water cannons being used by security forces, and motor vehicles on fire, among others. Mousavi supporters reportedly set a mosque on fire.
One video shows police hitting women with clubs. Several show men and women lying on the ground covered in blood after being beaten or shot, and in another a woman is trying to protect a young man who's being beaten and kicked by protesters after being thrown off his bike.
Several Twitter reports stated a hospital close to the scene is reporting 30 to 40 casualties and more than 200 injured.

Iranian state media is reporting the situation has returned to normal with "sporadic clashes." Mousavi said today he's ready for martyrdom willing to die for the cause behind the protests--the claim that last week presidential elections were rigged. Meanwhile, rallies against the Iran elections are underway at several U.S. cities, among them New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., as well as in foreign cities such as Hamburg, Germany; Sidney, Australia; and Paris, France.

Yesterday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei backed Ahmadinejad during the Friday morning prayer session.

Left: An image of the ayatollah delivering his sermon, taken from IRIB television by The Associated Press. (AP/IRIB)

He said Ahmadinejad won a "definitive victory" in the June 12 election and denied vote-rigging, adding that "rioting after the election is not a good way. It questions the election. If they continue [the consequences] will be their responsibility. ... I'm asking my friends and brothers to follow the laws. Let God give us blessing to follow those ways."

Well, how could they protest the election results before the election?

He praised Ahmadinejad as a "hard working" leader and blamed western governments and media for undermining the election process. Ugh.

Many residents, however, shouted "Allahu Akbar!" and "Death to the dictator!" from rooftops throughout Tehran in defiance to Khamenei, NBC News reported..

Suicide truck bomb kills over 60 people in Iraq

In Iraq, a suicide truck bombing near a Shiite mosque killed at least 64 people and wounded at least 166 Saturday in a city close to Kirkuk, Iraq, an official with Kirkuk police said according to a CNN report.

The explosion occurred in a busy area near the Rasoul mosque, police said, and a number of people were trapped under rubble.

Police said at least 25 houses and shops were destroyed.

The blast took place about 1 p.m. in the town of Taza, about 10 miles southwest of Kirkuk and 149 miles north of Baghdad, CNN reported. Taza is predominately inhabited by Shiite Turkmen.

Above: Iraqis search through the wreckage of a truck bomb in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Saturday. (Getty Images)

Last week, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki warned of increased political violence in the country, mentioning a deadly bombing on June 10 in the southern town of Bathaa that killed more than 30 people and injured dozens.

He said there will be attempts to undermine Iraqi security forces as U.S. troops complete their withdrawal from Iraqi cities by the end of the month and ahead of upcoming national elections.

Sources: BNO, CNN, Reuters, Fox News
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