Iran´s Mousavi says he will continue to challenge election results

In Iran, opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi published a statement on his website, saying he will continue to challenge the June 12 election results, and called on his supporters to continue peaceful protests.

No reports surfaced Thursday of demonstrations after news was circulated Wednesday via social media and internet videos of riot police and pro-government militiamen using clubs and tear gas to break up an opposition rally in front of Iran´s Parliament.

Mousavi blamed those behind the “rigged elections” for the violence that has been unleashed against protestors. Iran´s state media reports that at least 25 people have died in clashes between opposition supporters and pro-government forces since the elections, but figures are difficult to confirm, as reporters face severe restrictions on where and when they can work.

Mousavi says the government shut down his newspaper and is restricting his access to his supporters.  The opposition leader hasn´t been seen in public for days and he said that authorities arrested 70 university professors who met with him yesterday.

Western countries have been severely critical of the Iran´s reaction to the protests, with President Obama recently saying he was “appalled and outraged” by the crackdown on protesters.  Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on Obama to stop interfering in Iran´s affairs and to stop behaving like President Bush.

Ahmadinejad held an election victory party in Tehran today, with state media reporting that almost two thirds of Iran´s MP´s did not attend. Iran´s 290 MP´s had been invited to the celebration but local sources say only a third showed up.  

In Washington, the Obama administration said it will no longer invite Iranian Diplomats to attend a Fourth of July party at the White House.