PHOTOS: Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad faces pro-reform opposition in upcoming June 12th election

[flpoljunkie]

In this photo released by Islamic Republic of Iranian Broadcasting, the main pro-reform candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi, attends a TV debate between him and Iran's hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, unseen, in Tehran, Iran, on Wednesday, June 3, 2009. Mousavi accused President Ahmadinejad of driving Iran toward 'dictatorship' and hurting its standing in the world by questioning the Holocaust, during a rare and unprecedentedly raucous election debate Wednesday. (AP photo/Islamic Republic of Iranian Broadcasting,
Dehghan, HO)


In this photo released by Islamic Republic of Iranian Broadcasting, the main pro-reform candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi, attends a TV debate between him and Iran's hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, unseen, in Tehran, Iran, on Wednesday, June 3, 2009. Mousavi accused President Ahmadinejad of driving Iran toward 'dictatorship' and hurting its standing in the world by questioning the Holocaust, during a rare and unprecedentedly raucous election debate Wednesday. (AP photo/Islamic Republic of Iranian Broadcasting, Dehghan, HO)


Supporters of the leading reformist Iranian presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi hold his posters during an electoral campaign rally in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, June 3, 2009. Mousavi is President Ahmadinejad's main pro-reform rival for the June 12 elections. The name of the candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi is written on the poster in the Farsi language. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)


Supporters of former Prime Minister and Iran's upcoming presidential election candidate Mirhossein Mousavi on left and supporters of the Iranian President and presidential candidate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on right shout slogans in support of their favorite candidates during a rally in front of the University of Tehran, June 3, 2009. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl (IRAN POLITICS ELECTIONS)


Iranian supporters of reformist presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi hold his picture in Tehran on June 2, 2009. With more than 60 percent of Iranians born after their nation's Islamic revolution in 1979, the under-30 vote will be crucial in the June 12 election in which hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is being challenged by three fiercely critical rivals. (AFP/File/Atta Kenare)


An Iranian supporter of reformist presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi distributes posters and flyers in Tehran on June 3, 2009. With more than 60 percent of Iranians born after their nation's Islamic revolution in 1979, the under-30 vote will be crucial in the June 12 election in which hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is being challenged by three fiercely critical rivals. (AFP/File/Atta Kenare)


A supporter of Iranian presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi holds his picture during a demonstration to show her support for the former premier outside Tehran University in the Iranian capital. Mousavi accused hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of "undermining" the Islamic republic's dignity during his four-year term, in a television debate ahead of next week's presidential poll. (AFP/Atta Kenare)


Iran's hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, center, greets his supporters after attending a TV debate with main pro-reform candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi, unseen, in Tehran, Iran, on Wednesday, June, 3, 2009. Mousavi accused Ahmadinejad of driving Iran toward 'dictatorship' and hurting its standing in the world by questioning the Holocaust, during a rare and unprecedentedly raucous election debate Wednesday. (AP photo)


Iranian supporters of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hold his picture (C-R) and portraits of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a campaign rally in Tehran. Khamenei fired off a new salvo against the United States, saying it was detested across the Middle East, just as President Barack Obama held out his hand to Tehran. (AFP/Atta Kenare)


A woman stands in front of a campaign banner for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who will be running as a candidate in Iran's upcoming presidential election, after leaving a ceremony to mark Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's death anniversary at a mosque in northern Tehran, June 3, 2009. Banner reads "Stay with us, so that hope remains." REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl

[ClarkUSA]

1. Interesting...the first name of the pro-reform candidate means "Peace" in Russian.

Hopefully, that's a good omen. This election means that Iran is a democracy, too.

[secondwind]

2. Mousavi needs to get some serious body armor and protection if he wans to make it

to the election.

[babylonsister]

3. I really hope Mir Hossein Mousavi is successful. Do you know if

this is the man who had his wife campaigning?

Lots of young, thinking people in Iran. I hope they can turn this tide. It'd be so refreshing not to have to see Ahmadinejad as the face of Iran.

[flpoljunkie]

4. His wife did campaign with him. Here are a couple of recent photos.

Iranian leading reformist Iranian presidential candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi, right and his wife, Zahra, gesture to supporters during an electoral campaign in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, May 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)


Iranian leading reformist Iranian presidential candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi, left and his wife, Zahra, gesture to supporters during an electoral campaign in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, May 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

[babylonsister]

6. Thanks, flpoljunkie! nt

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

5. This is hopeful. Good luck to this Mousavi.

Pray for his safety.

[flpoljunkie]

9. CBS reports Mousavi and Ahmadinejad in 'increasingly tight race heading into the June 12 election.'

Mousavi and Ahmadinejad are in an increasingly tight race heading into the June 12 election. The outcome will set the tone of Iran's policies on crucial issues ahead such as its standoff with the West over its nuclear ambitions and the possibility of groundbreaking talks with Washington after a nearly 30-year diplomatic freeze.

Ahmadinejad can still count on strong backing from the ruling theocracy, which has the final say in all important policy matters and is capable of mobilizing millions of votes. But Mousavi's "green movement" _ named for the color adopted as a campaign symbol _ appears to be gaining serious ground among young voters as the race moves into the final week.

Article worth reading in its entirety: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/03/ap/world/main5060148.shtml

[izquierdista]

7. Middle names again

I wonder if Iran's right-wing idiots are clucking about his middle name too.

[Gol]

12. Just FYI...

Hussein in "Mir Hussein Musavi" is not considered his middle name.

Mir = title given pertaining to the fact his ancestors go back to Prophet Muhammad
Hussein = his first name
Musavi = his last name

[izquierdista]

13. A first name

All sorts of knickers could get in a twist over that!

[flpoljunkie]

14. Thank you for the explanation.

[Renew Deal]

8. Who created this poster? Swamp Rat?

I don't think this is the best image to use if you actually want the person to win.

[flpoljunkie]

11. Mousavi's supporters call themselves the "Green Movement.' Wear green wristbands.

[LeftishBrit]

10. Good luck to Mousavi!