Civil unrest in Iran

This item appears on page 21 of the August 2009 issue.

Huge street protests took place throughout Iran following the presidential election on June 12. President Ahmadinejad claimed an overwhelming victory, but opposition groups led by Mousavi claimed the results were rigged. In Tehran, security forces, militia and riot police clashed repeatedly with protesters, resulting in more than 17 deaths and scores of arrests.

Access by foreign journalists was limited, but information got out via Internet, cell phones, texting and video taken by people on the streets.