Ahmadinejad swears oath before a divided parliament
Tehran (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in as president of Iran today, after weeks of revolts against his re-election, accused of electoral fraud. In a solemn ceremony in the hall of the Majlis (parliament), he criticized "foreign powers" for sowing doubts regarding the validity of the elections and promised that his country "will resist" their claims. Some important figures were absent, outside, hundreds of police blocked opposition groups who challenged the veto on demonstrations laid down by Ali Khamenei.
In his speech after the oath, the President said that this is "the beginning of a major change in Iran and the world" and that "we will resist oppressors and try to correct the discriminatory mechanisms of globalization to benefit all nations of the world. "
A few metres from parliament, hundreds of opponents chanted slogans against Ahmadinejad; the police and the Basij (the guardians of the revolution) prevented them from approaching the building, but there were no clashes. Mobile phones coverage was blocked.
In the weeks following the June 12elections, thousands of demonstrators clashed with the police and the Basij, claiming fraud and rigging of the elections and also expressing criticism of the Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei, who immediately supported the victory of Ahmadinejad . At least 30 people were killed and hundreds were arrested.
The president never mentioned the protesters demonstrations, but said that " we will not tolerate disrespect, interference and insults”.
Many countries in the international community (including the United States, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy) have decided to accept his Presidency, but not to send the traditional greetings and congratulations. Ahmadinejad, to the amusement of the assembly, said: "nobody in Iran is waiting for your messages”.
But there were several empty seats in the assembly before him. The most important absences were those of the powerful Hashemi Rafsanjani, Mohammed Khatami, Mehdi Kharroubi, Mir Hossein Moussavi. Even members of the family of the Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini were absent.
Behind Ahmadinejad was the chairman of the Majlis, Ali Larijani, a conservative, who in recent weeks harshly criticized the re-elected the president, accusing him of not being obedient to the supreme guide. The divisions within the conservative structure – which emerged publicly this month - will make it difficult for Ahmadinejad to form a new government.
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