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Monday, June 22, 2009

Italy, France, Finland Willing To Aid Wounded Iranian Protesters...19 Reported Dead In Tehran




















UPI.com----

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- A European Union-wide proposal to coordinate aid for wounded Iranian demonstrators was expected to be discussed Wednesday in Stockholm, ministers said.

Ministers of Italy, France and Finland called for a common EU response for people seeking assistance in the violent aftermath of Iran's June 12 election in which hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the landslide winner over his nearest rival, moderate Mir Hossein Mousavi.

In demonstrations in Tehran Saturday, official Iranian media outlets reported at least 13 people died and more than 400 were wounded.

Embassies of several EU countries opened their gates to wounded protesters, including Italy, which said it instructed its mission in Tehran to assist "where there is a request or need for help from injured demonstrators," EUobserver reported Monday.

However, Sweden, which is about to assume the rotating EU presidency, said it cannot grant asylum. Belgium also said it would not allow opposition protesters to seek refuge in its embassy in the Iranian capital.

The Austrian foreign ministry said its embassy in the Iranian capital would render first aid, but no one has come to its compound.

A spokesman for Norway, which is not a European Union member but is recognized as an international negotiator, said its embassy in Tehran had "not accepted any refugees," the EUobserver said.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout said that the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned the Czech charge d'affaires and "his 26 colleagues from the European Union" in Tehran. Through a spokesman, Kohout said the EU diplomats were summoned "and they were not allowed to present their positions."


19 Reported Dead In Tehran, Iran----


TEHRAN, June 20 (UPI) -- At least 19 people were killed Saturday in clashes between police and protesters in Tehran, hospital sources told CNN.

CNN said there were unconfirmed reports the death toll was much higher, at least 150. Video posted on the Web showed police using nightsticks, water cannon, tear gas and fire hoses, with some footage of protesters who looked like they had been shot.

The massive protests occurred despite a warning Friday from Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that opposition presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi and other anti-government leaders could be held liable for any damage done by demonstrators.

Most of the demonstrations since the government proclaimed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had defeated Mousavi 2-1 in last week's presidential election have been peaceful. On Saturday, some protesters fought back when police confronted them, witnesses told The New York Times.

Press TV, a government-run broadcaster, reported the government saying 300 police officers had been injured. Brig. Gen. Ahmad-Reza Radan, the acting police chief, told the Fars News Agency police had received about 2,000 complaints from people asking for vigorous action against the protesters.

Khamenei, in a speech during Friday prayers, said Ahmadinejad had won an "overwhelming victory" and banned any further demonstrations.



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Sources: UPI.com, Google Maps

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