Observing Iran (catch all historical thread)

[tequila]

Things appear to have calmed at least in Iran today. Mousavi appears to be trying to organize a general strike.

Gary Sick on Mousavi's evolution in the past week, to include his manifesto issued yesterday.

It is apparent from this statement that Mousavi’s movement — and Mousavi himself — have evolved enormously in the past week. The candidate started as a mild-mannered reformer. After the searing events of the past several days, he has dared to preach a counter sermon to Khamene’i’s lecture on Islamic government. Although he never mentions the Leader by name, there is no overlooking the direct contradiction of his arguments. This open opposition to the Leader by a political figure is unprecedented.

Mousavi has in fact issued a manifesto for a new vision of the Islamic Republic. The repression and disdain of the government has brought the opposition to a place they probably never dreamed of going. And no one knows where any of the parties are likely to go next.

Chatham House analyzes the official election results and calls BS (PDF link). Two provinces report 100+% turnout. Most interesting nugget of info is that the Iranian countryside is heavily anti-Ahmadinejad and pro-reformist, from past election data, and increasingly peopled by the down-and-out ethnic minorities of Iran: Baloch, Kurds, Lors, and Arabs.

edit: Add a link to a morale booster video from BBC Persian service's website. Good to see the demonstrators sending the riot police fleeing for once.