Iranian Election Results Protested Around The World

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared his re-election "real and free" and compared the violent protests that broke out after his victory to "passions after a football match." While his opponent, Mir Hossein Moussavi, claimed ballot irregularities, noting how polls showed he was leading over incumbent Ahmadinejad, Ahmadinejad said of the unhappy reactions, "It doesn't matter. Some people are sentimental and become excited...Their team has not won in the match." He also blocked access to web sites and text messaging. In Europe, hundreds of protesters gathered at the Hague in the Netherlands to dispute the results (the EU said it was "concerned about alleged irregularities") and NY1 reports that dozens of Iranians in the city, who were allowed to vote in the election at polling centers in Manhattan and Queens, protested outside the consulate yesterday. One said, "Many people went and voted in Iran for a change, and the results of our votes are not being respected in an unprecedented way in Iran."