InfoAnda - Iran cleric's funeral turns to opposition protest

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

US, Canada, Mexico call for flu not to hit trade | 3 May 2009
Google refreshes local search results | 28 October 2010
Victoria Gotti's Mansion Up For Foreclosure | 14 May 2009

Germany arrests Rwanda genocide suspect | International | | 24 December 2008

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Iran cleric's funeral turns to opposition protest

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America Iran cleric's funeral turns to opposition protest By BRIAN MURPHY,Associated Press Writer - 1 hour 39 minutes ago Send IM Story Print DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Tens of thousands of Iranian mourners turned the funeral procession of the country's most senior dissident cleric into an anti-government protest Monday, chanting "death to the dictator" and slogans in support of the opposition amid heavy security. Giant crowds filled major streets, beating their chests in mourning, waving banners in the green colors of the opposition and shouting denunciations of Iran's rulers as Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri's body was carried to a shrine in Iran's holy city of Qom. Some mourners clashed briefly with security forces, throwing stones _ and hard-line pro-government militiamen charged some protesters until police held them back, opposition Web sites said. The militiamen tore down mourning banners and ripped to pieces posters of Montazeri near his home, the Hammihan Web site reported. Iranian authorities have barred foreign media from covering the rites. The death of Montazeri on Sunday, at the age of 87, pushed Iranian authorities into a difficult spot. They were obliged to pay respects to one of the patriarchs of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the one-time heir apparent to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. But officials also worried that his mourning rites could give a new push to opposition protests, particularly because they coincide with a week of traditional rallies commemorating a revered Shiite martyr. Montazeri broke with Iran's clerical leadership and became a vehement critic, denouncing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and calling the postelection crackdown the work of a dictatorship. Mourners shouted "Death to the Dictator" and other slogans in displays of anger against Iran's ruling establishment during the procession in Qom, a city of shrines and clerical seminaries about 60 miles (100 kilometers) south of Tehran, witnesses said. The witnesses spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of arrest. Marchers held aloft black-rimmed portraits of Montazeri and green banners and wrist bands in a powerful show of support for the Green Movement of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, who attended the funeral along with another prominent protest leader, Mahdi Karroubi. Footage posted on the Web showed massive crowds chanting in the streets of Qom and beating their chests in a sign of mourning, as Montazeri's body was carried in a coffin draped in black cloth around the city's main shrine several times then taken to a nearby cemetery for burial alongside his son, who died in the early days of the Islamic Revolution. Security forces clashed with mourners shouting slogans outside Montazeri's house in Qom, and some protesters threw stones, the opposition Web site Norouz reported. It said an unspecified number of mourners were arrested. The report could not be independently confirmed, and witnesses did not report major clashes. Some reformist sites reported that Mousavi's car was attacked as he left Qom and at least one member of his entourage was injured. The reports could not be independently confirmed. Thousands of mourners also marched in the cleric's hometown of Najafabad, near the central city of Isfahan. Web footage showed crowds of men beating their chests and chanting, "Oppressed Montazeri, you are with God now." Women in black robes shouted, "Dictator, dictator, Montazeri is alive," and "Montazeri, you who spoke the truth: Your path will be followed." On Monday, access to the Internet in Iran was slow, and cellular telephone service was unreliable. The government has periodically restricted communications in an attempt to prevent protesters from organizing. Authorities were clearly concerned Montazeri's death could set off a string of opposition protests linked to his funeral rites. Traditionally, memorial ceremonies are also held seven days after a death. Moreover, Montazeri's seventh day homage will fall on one of the most important Shiite religious days, marking the martyrdom of a revered 7th century leader _ giving even more fuel for a rally. In another sign of efforts to silence opposition media, authorities ordered the closure of a small, liberal-leaning newspaper, Andishe-no, or New Thinking. The paper had only a limited circulation, but was one of the few reformist publications remaining. Iranian officials also have tried to block opposition Web pages and other sites. Montazeri broke with the regime in the 1980s after claiming that the ruling clerics violated the ideals of the revolution by taking absolute power rather than serving as advisers to political leaders. He spent five years under house arrest and had only a minor role in political affairs after being released in 2003. But the outrage after June's disputed presidential election gave him a new voice that resonated with a younger generation. His most pivotal moments came in the summer when he denounced the "despotic" tactics and "crimes" of the ruling clerics _ a bold step that encouraged protesters to break taboos about criticism of Khomeini's successor, Supreme Leader Khamenei. In demonstrations earlier this month, students shouted "Death to the dictator!" and burned pictures of Khamenei _ an act that was almost unthinkable just a few months ago. State television made only a passing reference to Monday's funeral and did not broadcast any images. It mentioned, however, that mourners were chanting anti-government slogans. On Sunday, Khamenei praised Montazeri as a respected Islamic scholar, but noted his falling out with Khomeini and other leaders of the revolution. Montazeri's grandson, Nasser Montazeri, said he died in his sleep overnight. The Web site of Iranian state television quoted doctors as saying Montazeri had suffered from asthma and arteriosclerosis, a disease that thickens and hardens arteries. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said one of Montazeri's followers and a government critic, Ahmad Ghabel, was arrested while driving to Qom with his family to attend the funeral. The New York-based group called on the government not to interfere in the commemorations. Another prominent critic, filmmaker Mohammad Nourizad, was arrested on a charge of insulting officials, the state news agency IRNA reported Sunday. Nourizad, once a conservative government supporter, wrote a letter of protest to Khamenei in September urging him to apologize to the nation for the postelection crackdown. Montazeri was one of the leaders of the revolution and he helped draft the nation's new constitution, which was based on a concept called velayat-e faqih, or rule by Islamic jurists. That concept enshrined a political role for Islamic clerics in the new system. But a deep ideological rift soon developed with Khomeini. Montazeri envisioned the Islamic experts as advisers to the government who should not have outright control to rule themselves. He was also among those clerics who believed the power of the supreme leader comes from the people, not from God. Taking an opposing view, Khomeini and his circle of clerics consolidated absolute power. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Prisoner swap talks enter critical phase in Israel AP - 2 hours 42 minutes ago Swiss court acquits geologist in earthquake trial AP - 2 hours 52 minutes ago Russia Communists: don't slight Stalin on his bday AP - 2 hours 52 minutes ago Gov't imposes 3-hour limit on tarmac strandings AP - Tuesday, December 22 Officials: Beware of dangerous toy imports AP - 1 hour 49 minutes ago News Search Top Stories Swedish crisis talks on Saab amid doubts over Spyker bid Missing Dutch teen sailor found in Caribbean Japan logs trade surplus, boosted by China growth US actress Brittany Murphy dies at 32 Thousands warned to flee Philippine volcano zone More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended US actress Brittany Murphy dies at 32 Dwindling roster of sponsors for Tiger Woods Christmas chaos as cold cripples Eurostar trains Thousands warned to flee Philippine volcano zone Missing Dutch teen sailor found in Caribbean More Most Viewed » Tiger's wife Elin seeking divorce: reports Virgin unveils spaceship to offer space tourism Brazilian confesses to sticking needles into two-year-old Tiger Woods' girlfriend apologizes in TV interview Woods' mother-in-law rushed to hospital More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Tuesday, 22 December 2009
First house from Jesus' time found in Nazareth
Guinea massacre was 'crime against humanity': UN
Barnes & Noble compensates buyers for late Nook
Iran makes new bid for improving ties with Arabs
Swedish crisis talks on Saab amid doubts over Spyker bid
"Sesame Street" Fans Mourn The Loss Of Star Alaina Reed Hall
Turkish editor murder shows risk for reporters: group |
Colombia rejects Chavez charge over spy drones |
Amy Winehouse Facing Police Probe After Allegedly Abusing "Cinderella" Panto Actors
Lil Wayne Probed Over Suspicion Of Marijuana Possession
One dead as Syrian bus shot up in Lebanon
Former Israeli premier Olmert pleads not guilty
Pete Doherty Arrested Again Over Drug Charge After He Was Spared From Jail For DUI
"SYTYCD" Choreographer Shane Sparks Arrested Over Child Molestation Charges
Sierra Leone suspends tax chief over corruption |
Status quo won't hold, warn Middle East experts |
Actress Britney Murphy Reportedly Dies Of A Heart Attack
Jesus-era house found in Nazareth for first time
Zimbabwe rivals agree on media, election bodies |
Car of Iran opposition's Mousavi attacked: report |
Iran cleric's funeral turns to opposition protest
Troops, Taliban race to build up local governments
China envoy's Taiwan visit stirs backlash
Boat driver: Coast Guard vessel struck from behind
UK officials: China sets execution date for Briton
Pakistan's government reaches out to opposition
Iran expects speedy trial of 3 American hikers
2 Taliban dead in Afghan city gunbattle
Pittsburgh won't tax tuition; nonprofits to donate
Mich. files suit in US high court over Asian carp
France, China sign aviation deal as ties warm
Democrats push to pass health care by Christmas
Pakistan's Sharif holds off full attack on Zardari
Obama signs bill for defense, jobless benefits
New charges against Philippine massacre suspect
Govt. on track to save $40B in contract costs
Obama: Senate vote on health care a `big victory'
Storm-struck East returns to work, air delays ease
Former MT Sen. Burns out of hospital after stroke
Honda to unveil new small car at India auto fair
Turkish cinema shrugs off cliches over Kurdish issue
Panasonic completes Sanyo acquisition
China targets 8% growth in 2010
Bangladesh to build $2.4-billion bridge
Big Sunday raises `Avatar' weekend to $77.35M
Singer Oscar D'Leon recovers from heart attack
WTO: China unfairly restricting American CDs, DVDs
John Woo to get lifetime award at Venice film fest |
Court denies Polanski attempt to dismiss charge |
New territory for Peter Jackson with 'The Lovely Bones'
CBS gives reality series shot after Super Bowl
Turkish cinema shrugs off cliches over Kurdish issue
Baltimore honors native son with 'Frank Zappa Day'
Egypt university to appeal niqab ruling
Iran nuclear trigger report fabricated-Ahmadinejad
Iran nuclear trigger report fabricated: Ahmadinejad |
British army accused of 'waterboarding' in 1970s
International community has failed Gaza
US retailers in rush to save Christmas sales after storm
Iran clashes after Montazeri funeral: website
Saab hopeful after Spyker removes bid deadline
Ghost of Milosevic haunts Serbia's EU application
Israel passes response on prisoner swap to Hamas |
Israel passes response on prisoner swap to Hamas
Big freeze kills at least 80 across Europe
Blast at Press club in Pakistani city of Peshawar |
Israel declines to approve prisoner swap deal for now
Qaeda makes rare public appearance at Yemen rally |
Iran cleric's funeral becomes opposition protest
Guatemala will pay $3 million to massacre victims |
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood conservatives win vote
Gunmen kidnap Colombian governor; rebels suspected |
Seven North Koreans cross sea border to South |
Mexico City allows gay marriage with landmark law |
Most of 47,000 Filipinos safe from raging volcano
Accused lizard smuggler pleads not guilty in LA
Beijing raises water prices to fight shortage
Americans' views of health care steady this year
Atmosphere of fear at Christmas in north China
Man Convicted Of Being Nude In His Home
Caring for Washington's warriors away from home
Ashfall raises fears at rumbling Philippine volcano
Citadel Broadcasting Files For Bankruptcy
Lawyer: Fort Hood suspect prevented from praying
Flight Crew To Get Family And Medical Benefits
Indonesia's Aceh still healing after tsunami
Former Va. Tech Grad Student Pleads Guilty To Decapitation
2 Koreas to open modernized military hot lines
50 things that changed our lives in the aughts
President Obama Partakes Spirit of Christmas With Children
Obama health overhaul on track for Christmas passage
Iraqi-Based Military Personnel, Civilians Working For Military To Be Punished For Pregnancies
S.Korea vows to safeguard disputed sea border
Britain to press China on looming execution for Briton
AAA Auto Club South President Retires, New Leader Assumes Post
Colombia to Chavez: Maybe 'spy plane' was Santa
Winter Weather Causes Chaos For Travellers, Airline Industry
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 857
New Report Says U.S. Stocks Surge While American Take Home Pay Plunges
Seven North Koreans cross sea border to South
Australia pledges 'no more, no less' on climate
Efforts To Streamline Taxpayers Money Spending On Track Notes Federal Agency
Oral Roberts remembered as charismatic leader
Study: Schools face shortfalls after stimulus ends
Seoul shares up; Doosan Heavy gains on order hopes
China regrets WTO ruling on movie, music imports
Venice festival honors Woo with lifetime award
Taiwan's Cathay shares at 2-wk high despite ICBC comments
China 'regrets' WTO decision on film, music trade
NZ Q3 current account gap hits 7-yr low, seen widening
PAKISTAN
Auto sales in rural markets boost China to No. 1
Taiwan dollar flat, seen inching upwards in 2010
Papuans threaten to block Indonesia Freeport's mine
S.Korean bonds extend losses on foreign selling
Drug tests awaited on Brittany Murphy death |
Avatar could get nine Oscar nominations |
Korea Hot Stocks
From Brooklyn kitchen table to first lady's outfits
Foreign filmmakers get creative with small budgets |
"Avatar" could get nine Oscar nominations
Director Singer shares X-Men, holiday plans |
Fox going yellow for "Simpsons" anniversary
World's Best Santa weaves Hong Kong magic
Fox going yellow for Simpsons anniversary |
Venice festival honors Woo with lifetime award
U.S. court urges misconduct probe into Polanski case |
Director Singer shares "X-Men," holiday plans
Britney Spears stories; some absurd (many not true) |
Father: Utah man who inspired 'Rain Man' dies
Poehler, Applegate squeak for laughs in Chipmunks |
10 a cappella singers ready for pop stardom
Avatar debut box office raised to $77 million |
Comic-book stories show another Africa
Top 50 Concert Tours of Decade
Runaway teen sailor escorted back to Netherlands
US-TECH Summary
Britain stuck in recession
World has betrayed Gaza civilians: rights groups
NATO says no deadline for Afghan troop withdrawal |
Eurostar starts to bring angry passengers home
Hamas blames Israel for 'hindering' prisoners deal
OPEC holds oil output quotas unchanged
Marilyn Manson Lawsuit Settlement Put On Hold By Lien
Investigation finds Lithuania had secret CIA jails |
Roman Polanski's Bid To Dismiss Sex Case Rejected By U.S. Appeals Court
Turkmenistan to resume gas supplies to Russia: Gazprom
U2's Adam Clayton Suing Ex-Assistant Over Alleged Embezzlement
Iran says Iraq border incident a "misunderstanding"
OPEC oil powers nervous over economy
Iran says Iraq border incident a misunderstanding |
Tom Cruise Sued Over Alleged Spying, Wiretapping
Mexico City approves gay marriage
International community has failed Gaza: aid groups |
Article not found
Polish police probe foreign link in Auschwitz theft |
Russia says stalled Mideast talks need extra push |
Eurostar trains resume, Europe struggles with snow |
France rejects prisoner swap for woman held in Iran |
Nepal's Maoists warn of indefinite general strike
Lithuania may have hosted two US 'war on terror' jails
Suicide bomber kills 3 in key northwest Pakistan town
Washington 'forged' nuclear documents: Ahmadinejad
China to require Internet domain name registration |
Obama calls small bankers meeting
Ex-South Korean prime minister indicted
'Misunderstandings' with China are bygones: French PM
At Jersey shore, thumbs down for 'Jersey Shore'
Japan sets May deadline to resolve US base dispute
Report: FBI probes hacker attack on Citigroup
2 Koreas to open modernized military hot lines
Calif. county considers toxic waste dump expansion
Guantanamo 'hell on Earth', says Somali detainee
China says trial for condemned Briton was fair
Dismissal sought in Stanford document shred case
China think tank worries about unrest
Judge to hear key motions in Kan. abortion trial
Taiwan, China sign trade agreements amid protests
Hearing planned on moving Gitmo prisoners to Ill.
Italian winemakers first to invest in India
PREVIEW-Taiwan c.bank seen holding rates steady this week
Pakistani o/n rates ease; rupee weakens; stocks up
Taiwan CPC scraps Feb condensate on high offers
Taiwan, China sign trade agreements amid protests
Asia Naphtha-Formosa buys H1 Feb at high premiums
Taiwan's jobless rate falls in November
Japanese automakers boost output as sales rebound
Taiwan-China trade talks under way amid protests
Guy Ritchie hopes hard work pays off with 'Holmes'
Papuans demand closure of US mine in Indonesia
Ceausescu draws tourists 20 years after firing squad
Seoul ties up with Indonesian tribe using Korean alphabet
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Foreign filmmakers get creative with small budgets
Carrie Underwood engaged to NHL player Mike Fisher
China to require Internet domain name registration
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01