Timeline of Iran's election crisis

[June 19, 2009]  A timeline of Iran's post-election crisis, which has sparked the biggest unrest in the country in a decade.

Friday, June 12

Iran holds presidential elections, with voters choosing among hard-line incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, main reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi and two others. Huge turnout forces authorities to extend voting by six hours, raising expectations that anti-Ahmadinejad voters could prevail.

Saturday, June 13

Ahmadinejad is declared landslide winner in a count that many see as suspiciously fast. Mousavi charges fraud. Thousands of protesters take to the streets, some setting fire and clashing with police. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calls on Iranians to unite behind Ahmadinejad. Police storm headquarters of largest reform party.

Sunday, June 14

Ahmadinejad asserts election was fair, dismisses the protest violence as "not important" and likens protesters to soccer hooligans. Authorities claim international news media are stoking tensions. Thousands of protesters gather on rooftops, shouting "Death to the dictator." Khamenei directs the Guardian Council, one of the country's most influential bodies, to investigate claims of voting fraud, but the concession falls short of demands for new election. Government increases filtering of Internet sites and continues blocking cellular-phone messaging.

Monday, June 15

Hundreds of thousands of protesters march in Tehran, and militia gunmen fire on a crowd trying to storm their compound. State media later report seven people were killed in clashes during the day. Smaller protests are reported in several other cities. President Barack Obama takes cautious line in his first comments on the crisis, saying he is "deeply troubled" by the violence but not assessing election's validity.

Tuesday, June 16

Journalists restricted from reporting from the streets; some foreign reporters leave as visas expire. Ahmadinejad travels to Russia, underlining his claim to legitimacy, while thousands hold rally supporting him in Tehran. Later, a huge pro-Mousavi rally stretches a mile down one of capital's main thoroughfares, witnesses say.

Wednesday, June 17

Large protests continue in Tehran. Human rights organizations say many prominent activists and politicians have been arrested. State-run TV blames United States for "intolerable interference."

Thursday, June 18

Thousands of black-clad pro-Mousavi demonstrators mourn those killed in clashes. Cellular phone service in the capital goes down as gathering begins. Guardian Council calls on Mousavi and the two other opponents of Ahmadinejad in the race to a meeting Saturday to discuss their complaints.

Friday, June 19

Khamenei addresses country during Friday prayers at Tehran University. Calling the election a victory, he sides with Ahmadinejad and says the vote was not rigged. He also warns protesters of a crackdown if opposition demonstrations continue.

[Associated Press]

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