BBC Tehran correspondent asked to leave

LONDON - British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in an announcement Sunday said Iranian authorities have asked its correspondent in Tehran to leave.

Eerie calm settles over Tehran as death toll jumps to 17, Rafsanjani relatives arrested

TEHRAN, Iran — An eerie calm settled over the streets of Tehran Sunday as state media reported at least 10 more deaths in post-election unrest and said authorities arrested the daughter and four other relatives of ex-President Hashemi Rafsanjani, one of Iran’s most powerful men.

Obama: Iran’s leaders must stop all ‘violent and unjust actions’ amid postelection crackdown

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Saturday challenged Iran’s government to halt a “violent and unjust” crackdown on dissenters, using his bluntest language yet to condemn Tehran’s postelection response.

Excerpts from address by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during Friday prayers

Excerpts from an address by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during Friday prayers at Tehran University in which he denied allegations of election fraud and warned opposition leaders to end street protests:

Medvedev: Washington must ease Russian concern about missile defense to proceed with nuke cuts

AMSTERDAM — Russia is ready for deep cuts of strategic nuclear weapons in a new deal with the United States if the U.S. eases Moscow’s concerns about plans for a missile defense system, President Dmitry Medvedev said Saturday.

Iran’s leader warns opposition: End street protests or be accountable for ‘bloodshed’

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s supreme leader sought to end the deepening crisis over disputed elections with one decisive speech — declaring the vote will almost certainly stand and sternly warning opposition leaders to end street protests or be held responsible for any “bloodshed and chaos” to come.

White House sticks to cautious Iran approach in face of House vote to step up US criticism

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Friday stuck to a measured response to the uprising in Iran over a disputed presidential election, even as both houses of Congress voted overwhelmingly to condemn an official crackdown on mostly peaceful demonstrations in the streets of Tehran.

Iran’s top leader addresses nation after mass opposition protests challenge ruling clerics

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s supreme leader addressed the nation Friday in his first public comments since opposition supporters flooded Tehran’s streets in an unprecedented challenge to the country’s ruling clerics.

Despite long-severed diplomat ties, US government has opened some paths to deciphering Iran

WASHINGTON — During a 29-year absence of formal diplomatic ties with Iran, the U.S. government used many channels to gain insights about the Islamic regime’s inner workings, from CIA contacts and meetings with Iranian exiles to relayed information from friendly foreign diplomats.

2 protests in France against Iranian election; more planned in other European nations

PARIS — Iranians in capitals around Europe demonstrated to Thursday protest the disputed Iranian presidential election and the regime’s treatment of its critics.

Iran directly accuses US of meddling in deepening crisis over disputed presidential election

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran directly accused the United States of meddling in the deepening crisis over a disputed presidential election and broadened its media clampdown Wednesday to include blogs and news Web sites. But protesters took to the streets in growing defiance of the country’s Islamic rulers.

Political football: Iran’s soccer players wear green in apparent election protest

SEOUL, South Korea — It was a simple gesture — green tape wrapped around a wrist — but its symbolism resonated half a world away.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warn media as opposition plans rally, heightening tension

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s most powerful military force is warning online media of a crackdown over their coverage of the country’s election crisis.

Thousands rally for, against Iranian regime as Guardian Council agrees to limited vote recount

TEHRAN, Iran — Thousands of protesters have rallied in Tehran in support of reformist opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, according to witnesses and video footage.

Iran protests EU stance on polls, summons Czech diplomat

PRAGUE - Iran summoned a senior Czech diplomat Tuesday over the European Union’s (EU) critical statements about the disputed Iranian presidential election, the Czech foreign ministry said.

Iran Council orders election recount

TEHRAN - Iran’s Council of Guardians has said it is ready to recount votes from last week’s disputed election in the wake of clashes and mass protests which have led to the deaths of at least seven people. n a statement released through state media the council, a powerful committee of 12 clerics, said the move may lead to changes in candidates’ tally.

US urges Iran to accept invitation to nuclear talks with Washington and five key players

UNITED NATIONS — The United States urged Iran on Monday to agree to a meeting with the six key nations trying to ensure that its nuclear program is peaceful in which the U.S. will be “a full participant.”

Man killed in Iran as protesters denounce President Ahmadinejad’s claim to victory in election

TEHRAN, Iran — In a massive outpouring reminiscent of the Islamic Revolution three decades ago, hundreds of thousands of Iranians streamed through the capital Monday, and the fist-waving protesters denounced President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s claim to victory in a disputed election.

Hundreds of thousands join protest rally in Tehran (Lead)

TEHRAN - Hundreds of thousands of protesters marched towards Tehran University and the Iranian capital’s Enqelab (Revolution) Square Monday despite the interior ministry’s ban on the gathering, eyewitnesses said.

Respect genuine will of Iranian voters: Ban

NEW YORK - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Monday he was closely following the dispute over Iran’s presidential electoral results, and called for respect of the “genuine will” of the Iranian voters.

Protester fatally shot after huge rally in Tehran to press vote fraud claims defies crackdown

TEHRAN, Iran — Gunfire from a pro-government militia killed one man and wounded several others Monday after hundreds of thousands of chanting opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad marched in central Tehran to support their pro-reform leader in his first public appearance since disputed elections.

Manmohan to meet Chinese, Pakistan presidents (Lead)

YEKATERINBURG - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who arrived in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg Monday night, will be meeting four heads of state, including Chinese President Hu Jintao and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, on the sidelines of the two multilateral summits here.

Iranian Embassy in Moscow says President Ahmadinejad will arrive Tuesday after postponement

MOSCOW — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad postponed a planned Russia visit by one day but will make the trip Tuesday, the Iranian Embassy in Moscow said.

Russia’s Medvedev in regional summit talks with China’s Hu, Central Asian leaders

YEKATERINBURG, Russia — Russia played regional power broker Monday, hosting China and Central Asian nations for a summit that highlights the Kremlin’s efforts to maintain clout in former Soviet territory and raise its profile in Afghanistan.

Iranian reformists vow to hold Tehran march despite ban by authorities

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian authorities banned anti-government protesters from staging a planned rally on Monday, but a top aide to opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi vowed his followers would heed his call for a march through Tehran.

Ahmadinejad protesters expand fight in streets, shout opposition from Tehran’s rooftops

TEHRAN, Iran — Protesters battled police over Iran’s disputed election and shouted their opposition from the rooftops Sunday, but President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismissed the unrest as little more than “passions after a soccer match” and drew his own huge rally of support.

Moussavi calls on Guardian Council to nullify election

TEHRAN - Iranian opposition leader Mir-Hossein Moussavi called on Iran’s Guardian Council Sunday to nullify the results of the presidential election.

Karzai tells incoming US commander in Afghanistan to protect civilians

KABUL — President Hamid Karzai told the incoming commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan on Sunday that the most important part of his new mission was to protect Afghan civilians.

Ahmadinejad dismisses violent protests over Iran’s disputed election as ‘not important’

TEHRAN, Iran — Protesters set fires and smashed store windows Sunday in a second day of violence as groups challenging President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s re-election tried to keep pressure on authorities. Anti-riot police lashed back and the regime blocked Internet sites used to rally the pro-reform campaign.

Ahmadinejad’s pro-reform challenger calls on Iranian authorities to cancel disputed election

TEHRAN, Iran — President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s main challenger is calling on authorities to cancel Friday’s presidential election, saying it is the only way to restore public trust.