Iran goes for partial hangout recount

NY Times:

Thousands of people began massing in the streets here again on Tuesday to protest Iran’s disputed presidential election, increasing tensions a day after clashes left at least seven people dead during the largest antigovernment demonstration since the Iranian revolution.

But in answer to the supreme leader’s turnabout call for an examination of opposition charges of vote-rigging, the country’s powerful Guardian Council said Tuesday it was prepared to order only a partial recount, and it ruled out an annulment of the vote, according to state television and news reports.

The concession was rejected by the main opposition candidate, Mir Hussein Moussavi, and other opponents of the declared winner, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The opponents demand that a new election be held.

As the political tumult grew, the Iranian government canceled all foreign press credentials and told Iranian journalists they could report only from their offices, but news continued to flow out of Tehran.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ahmadinejad appeared to try to project a secure grip on power, leaving Iran to fly to Russia on Tuesday for a meeting on international security.

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I don't think this partial recount will satisfy the thousands of people in the streets of Iran. They have no confidence in the ayatollah's integrity at this point. All this really shows is that the leadership is blinking in the face of mass protest at their fraud.

Hiding the demonstrations from the cameras is impossible now with the availability of social media.

The contrast with the joy seen in Iraq where democracy is really working is striking. I think these demonstrations are a further confirmation of the Bush policy of pushing for democracy, It is a much stronger force than "realist" engagement.