- Title: SOUTH KOREA: Iran election protests overshadow World Cup qualifier
- Date: 18th June 2009
- Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (JUNE 17, 2009) (REUTERS) IRANIAN PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNER AND PLACARDS AGAINST THE COUNTRY'S ELECTION RESULT IRANIAN WOMAN CHANTING (SOUNDBITE) (English) 50-YEAR-OLD IRANIAN SINA PARK SAYING "They are doing something that has not been done for thirty years. The people were quiet for thirty years. They were shut down and their voice was not been heard in anywhere else. But now it's the time that their voice is being heard in all over the world." IRANIAN PROTESTERS CHANTING WHILE HOLDING PLACARDS (SOUNDBITE) (English) 31-YEAR-OLD IRANIAN MAHMOUD REZA SOLTANY SAYING: "Deep in our heart, we're sad about what happened in Iran. Everyone in the whole world knows what happened during the election. It was not right. We know that. What Iranian people are doing in Iran is right, I think. If I was there too, I wish I was there right now, I could go to the street like the other youth and shout for freedom." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ENTERING WORLD CUP STADIUM IN SEOUL
- Embargoed: 3rd July 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Domestic Politics,Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA77WUUXIXZILCIYLEM3AN53UPN
- Story Text: In Seoul, Iranians protest against what they said was a rigged presidential election in Iran and demand a recount of the votes, while some members of the national football team begin their World Cup qualifier against South Korea wearing green arm bands.
Protests over Iran's disputed presidential election overshadowed a World Cup qualifier against South Korea on Wednesday (June 17).
Several Iran players wore green armbands early in the match in what appeared to be a show of support for defeated presidential candidate Mirhossein Mousavi while their fans unfurled banners at the stadium reading: "Free Iran".
A small group of Iranians also demonstrated in front of Seoul's biggest stadium to protest against what they said was a rigged presidential election and demand a recount of the votes.
"They are doing something that has not been done for thirty years. The people were quiet for thirty years. They were shut down and their voice was not been heard in anywhere else. But now it's the time that their voice is being heard in all over the world," said 50-year-old Iranian Sina Park.
"No, No to Dictatorship" the protesters chanted as they gathered together near the stadium before they enter it to support their national soccer team.
"Deep in our heart, we're sad about what happened in Iran. Everyone in the whole world knows what happened during the election. It was not right. We know that. What Iranian people are doing in Iran is right, I think. If I was there too, I wish I was there right now, I could go to the street like the other youth and shout for freedom," said 31-year-old Iranian Mahmoud Reza Soltany.
Unrest has rocked Tehran and other cities since the Interior Ministry released results on Saturday that showed hardliner Ahmadinejad had defeated Mousavi by a landslide.
South Korea and Iran drew 1-1 in the World Cup qualifier, dashing the Middle Eastern team's hopes of an automatic place in next year's finals. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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