Protests as Iranian president is sworn in

MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD was sworn in for a second term as Iran’s president yesterday while security forces battled hundreds of protesters chanting “Death to the Dictator” in the streets around parliament where the ceremony was held.

Key opposition leaders, moderate lawmakers and all three of Ahmadinejad’s election challengers boycotted the swearing in ceremony.

State-run Press TV said more than 5,000 security forces were in the streets around parliament and police with sniffer dogs patrolled the area after the opposition called for demonstrations to coincide with the inauguration.

Hundreds of protesters chanted “Death to the Dictator” before security forces broke up a demonstration near parliament, striking people with batons and blasting them with pepper spray, witnesses said.

Some of the protesters wore black T-shirts in a sign of mourning and others wore green – the colour of the opposition movement.

A middle-aged woman carried a banner warning Iran’s leaders if they do not listen to people’s demands, they will face the same fate as Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was toppled in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The ceremony capped almost two months of the worst political turmoil in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The opposition staged massive street protests and the crisis split Iran’s clerical leadership.

Even conservatives from Ahmadinejad’s own camp harshly criticised the government over mistreatment of detained opposition activists.

In his inaugural address, Ahmadinejad seemed to tone down his often-bellicose rhetoric and emphasised his plans to improve the faltering economy. He demanded Iran be on an equal footing with other world powers and denounced foreign interference. The government has accused the US and the West of backing street protests.

“We must play a key role in the management of the world,” Ahmadinejad said.

“We will not remain silent. We will not tolerate disrespect, interference and insults,” he added. “I will spare no effort to safeguard the frontiers of Iran.”

Ahmadinejad noted that some Western countries – including the US, Britain, France, Germany and Italy – did not congratulate him on his election win.

“Some countries have not recognised the elections or extended their congratulations. They do not respect the rights of other nations, yet they recognise themselves as the yardstick for democracy,” he said, without naming specific countries. “Nobody in Iran is waiting for anyone’s congratulations,” he added, to cheers from lawmakers.

Ahmadinejad did not directly address President Barack Obama’s outreach for the start of a dialogue on Iran’s nuclear programme, which the US suspects is geared toward producing weapons.

But he said: “Iran is a nation of logic, dialogue and constructive interaction. The basis of our foreign policy is wide and constructive contacts with all nations and independent governments based on justice, respect and friendship.”

The US administration has given Iran a vague deadline of September to respond positively to the outreach or face stiffened sanctions.

Ahmadinejad mentioned the election crisis only in passing, without direct reference to the opposition or the huge street protests and clashes since the June 12 vote.