Protests in Japan and Australia Against Iran Election
2009-6-20 18:45
Anger over Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's declared reelection last week is spilling over into Japan and Australia.
In Tokyo, 200 mostly Iranian nationals gathered saying they sympathized with the Iranians who had taken to the streets in the Iranian capital of Tehran.
[Anonymous Protester]:
"We gathered here today to renounce the result of the election in Iran and because of the people over there. We hope to send a message that we sympathize with the people of Iran and that we do not want a dictatorial regime in our country.”
Many of the protesters who gathered covered their faces to prevent future reprisal.
[Anonymous Protester]:
"I am deeply concerned about people being killed and that's why I'm here, both to show my support and give my condolences."
A small group of demonstrators marched to the Iranian embassy to hand in a written statement of their demands.
[Nicol, Pseudonym]:
"We do insist that all must respect whatever choice the people make and support democracy and the constitutional rights of people."
In Australia, hundreds of protesters gathered in Sydney and Brisbane in similar protests.
Around 200 people from the Iranian-Australian community took part in the world-wide movement asking, "Where is my vote?"
Protesters held green balloons and chanted "Fresh election, UN observation" in the streets of Sydney.
An estimated 65% of Iranians living in Australia are eligible to vote in Iranian elections, but there is no knowing how many of them voted in the recent elections.
And in Brisbane, protestors marched through the city streets chanting "Where is my Vote?" and “Democracy for Iran."
Mousavi has called for annulment of the election result as thousands of his supporters have staged demonstrations in Tehran following the election.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Friday that last week's election was won fairly by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Khamenei ordered an end to the protesting and warned of possible violence if it persisted.
