Iranian solidarity protest outside London embassy
By Alex Stevenson
Protestors are expected to gather again outside the Iranian embassy in London this evening as the political crisis in Iran continues.
Presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi was defeated in presidential elections held over the weekend but his supporters are challenging the result, which handed a win to incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Earlier this week the Metropolitan police said around 200 protestors had gathered for a peaceful protest against the election. Some held placards asking “Where is my vote?”
Smaller-scale demonstrations have taken place every night since then and a further protest is expected tonight.
Momentum in Iran continues to grow for Mr Mousavi’s supporters, who will march again today to mourn the deaths of eight protestors in Monday’s Tehran demonstrations. They died when pro-government militia opened fire on peaceful protestors.
Mr Mousavi asked his supporters to unite behind the deaths in a statement on his website.
“In the course of the past days and as a consequence of illegal and violent encounters with [people protesting] against the outcome of the presidential election, a number of our countrymen were wounded or martyred,” he wrote.
“I ask the people to express their solidarity with the families … by coming together in mosques or taking part in peaceful demonstrations.”
It follows a march yesterday in which demonstrators taped their mouths shut, seeking to underline the peaceful nature of the protests.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has called on the protestors to respect the election result.
Official results announced on Saturday gave Mr Ahmadinejad 62.63 per cent of the vote, with Mr Mousavi awarded just 33.75 per cent.
