Saturday, June 20, 2009

'Bomb Explodes' As Thousands Protest In Iran

SKY NEWS: A bomb has exploded in Tehran near the shrine of Iran's revolutionary founder as thousands of people protest at the result of the country's election, reports say.

At least one person was killed and two others injured close to the shrine of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, said the Fars news agency.

Reports said it was a suicide bombing and the attacker died.

Elsewhere in the Iranian capital, police are using tear gas and water cannon on protesters, according to witnesses.

Reports said many people have defied Government warnings that any protests would be suppressed.

Eyewitnesses say some 3,000 protesters chanted "Death to the dictator!" and "Death to dictatorship!" near Revolution Square in the city centre.

Riot police were sent out on to the streets following a demand by Iran's supreme leader for the demonstrations to end. >>> | Saturday, June 20, 2009

ASSOCIATED PRESS: Web Support Pours Out for Iran Protesters

NEW YORK — Google and Facebook have rushed out services in Farsi. Twitter users have changed their home cities to Tehran to provide cover for Internet users there. Others have configured their computers to serve as relay points to bypass Iranian censorship.

In the aftermath of the disputed Iranian election, Internet companies and individuals around the world have stepped in to help Iranians communicate and organize.

Twitter delayed a scheduled maintenance shutdown so that people could continue to access the microblogging site while scores of Americans set up remote proxy servers so Iranians could access blocked Web sites from inside their country.

All week, Internet users in the U.S. and around the world fixed their eyes on the events unfolding in Iran, the way viewers might have been glued to their television sets 30 years ago. But unlike 30, or even five years ago, this time they could participate. >>> Associated Press | Saturday, June 20, 2009