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Inside the Middle East
May 24, 2012
Posted: 1254 GMT

Egyptians headed to polling stations on Thursday, for a second straight day, to place their ballots in what many are calling the first free presidential election in Egypt's history.

Political cartoonists have always been a burden for leaders in tightly-controlled, autocratic political systems. In the old Egypt, under the three-decade rule of former president Hosni Mubarak, the press was less regulated than some of its other Arab neighbors.  Still, Egypt's press has opened greatly since Mubarak's February 2011 ouster, and cartoonists are relishing new freedoms that allow them to unleash their creativity.

Here's a look at what Egypt's political cartoonists had to say about this historic election:

From Egypt Independent, an independent online daily:

This cartoon shows a dentist treating a patient and – referring the nation's newfound political freedoms for voting – says, “Your voice is really bad. You give it to the wrong person every time. Take care this time!”

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Filed under: Culture •Egypt •Elections •Media


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November 24, 2010
Posted: 1219 GMT

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Filed under: Egypt •Elections •Video


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March 7, 2010
Posted: 923 GMT

Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) - Militants intent on disrupting Iraqi elections carried out a series of attacks Sunday, resulting in at least 24 fatalities.

Iraqis holding up their ink-stained index fingers to show they have voted.
Iraqis holding up their ink-stained index fingers to show they have voted.

More than 30 mortar rounds hit Baghdad, with three landing inside the heavily fortified International Zone. The rockets did not cause casualties. The zone, informally known as the Green Zone, houses the U.S. Embassy and many Iraqi government buildings.

One of the rockets landed in the Ur neighborhood in northeastern Baghdad, killing 12 people. The capital also experienced a number of deadly roadside bomb attacks.

Three people were killed and 54 were injured on Saturday when a parked car rigged with explosives blew up in Najaf. Three attacks happened Thursday. There have been warnings of further insurgent attacks around the vote.

Voters headed to the polls to elect a 325-member parliament. It is Iraq's fifth nationwide vote since 2003, but only the second for a full four-year-term parliament.

The polls opened at 7 a.m. (11 p.m. ET Saturday), and will close at 5 p.m. (9 a.m. ET Sunday). All those in line at the time the polls are open will be able to vote. Read full story...

Filed under: Elections •Iraq


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June 28, 2009
Posted: 626 GMT

(CNN) - Iranians wounded during protests are being seized at hospitals by members of an Islamic militia, an Amnesty International official told CNN.

Ayatollah Ahmed Khatami says rioters in Iran will be 'firmly' dealt with if they continue to protest.
Ayatollah Ahmed Khatami says rioters in Iran will be 'firmly' dealt with if they continue to protest.

"The Basijis are waiting for them," said Banafsheh Akhlaghi, western regional director of the human rights group, referring to the government's paramilitary arm that has cracked down on protesters during the violent aftermath of the June 12 presidential election.

Amnesty International has collected accounts from people who have left Iran and expatriates with relatives there who say the Basij has prohibited medical professionals from getting identification information from wounded demonstrators who check in, Akhlaghi said on Saturday. They are also not allowed to ask how the injuries happened, and relatives are hard pressed to find the wounded.

Once the patients are treated, the militia removes them from the hospital to an undisclosed location, she said.

Iran has restricted international news agencies, including CNN, from reporting inside the Islamic republic. However, CNN has received similar accounts, including that of a woman who arrived in the United States from Iran with a broken ankle and thumb. Read full story

Filed under: Elections •Iran •Protests


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June 24, 2009
Posted: 850 GMT
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June 23, 2009
Posted: 637 GMT

More from CNN's Iran coverage: The role of female protestors

Filed under: CNN Coverage •Elections •Iran •Protests •Science & Technology


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June 21, 2009
Posted: 852 GMT

From CNN.com:

By Saad Abedine
CNN

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) - The Arab world is among the worldwide audience that has been closely watching as events in Iran have unfolded over the past week.

"In all honesty, I am amazed by these Iranians," Egyptian human rights activist and blogger Walid Abbas posted on his Twitter page. "I have no green t-shirt" Abbas tweeted Saturday. He was referring to the color worn by many supporters of opposition candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi, whose supposed failure to win last week's election sparked the wave of unrest that has gripped the nation.

Protesters fight running battles with motorcycle-mounted militia members Saturday in Tehran
Protesters fight running battles with motorcycle-mounted militia members Saturday in Tehran

Watching the events unfolding in Iran on Twitter, Youtube and other social networks, the Egyptian activist said he is learning from the Iranian activists. He said he does not support Moussavi because he is part of the Mullah system.

"We are not with Moussavi," Abbas tweeted, "We are with the Iranian people and their demands."

Taghlob Salah, a 24-year-old Iraqi student at Baghdad Law College, told CNN that the Iranian youths who make up most of the protesters can be inspiring to Iraqis, despite cultural differences. See images of the clashes Saturday »

"Despite the difference that we have with Iran and the fact that many Iraqis don't trust their Persian neighbor, we are still Muslims and at the end of the day that matters a lot," he said. "We will look at this phase in Iranian history and learn, for sure and I can say that we will learn from them, 100 percent."

Iraq and Iran are culturally linked because their populations are predominantly Shiite Muslims, as opposed to Sunni Muslims who make up the majority of most Arab countries. Read full story

Filed under: Elections •Iran •Protests


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June 19, 2009
Posted: 1100 GMT

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) - Iran's supreme leader on Friday rejected opposition claims that last week's presidential elections were rigged, describing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's win as "definitive" and calling for an end to days of protest.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first address since the June 12 presidential elections.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first address since the June 12 presidential elections.

In his first speech since the June 12 election outcome sparked the country's worst unrest in 30 years, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the vote accurately reflected the will of the people and accused "enemies of Islam" of stoking anger.

The "Islamic establishment would never manipulate votes and commit treason. The legal structure in this country does not allow vote-rigging," Khamenei said, in his first address since the elections.

He told a large crowd at Tehran University that the "historic" 85 percent turnout of more than 40 million people meant the vote was too large to have been manipulated.

"There is a difference of 11 million votes. How can vote-rigging happen?" he added... Read full story

Filed under: Elections •Iran •Protests


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June 18, 2009
Posted: 1105 GMT

From Reza Sayah
CNN

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) - Members of Iran's national soccer team wore green arm and wrist bands Wednesday during their World Cup qualifying match against South Korea.

Members of Iran's National Soccer Team sport green bands in their game against South Korea on Wednesday.
Members of Iran's National Soccer Team sport green bands in their game against South Korea on Wednesday.

The team does not normally wear green bands.

Many Iranians are viewing the team's bands as a sign of support for Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi, although that has not been confirmed.

Green is the campaign color of Moussavi and has been widely worn by his supporters who have staged massive rallies in Tehran before and after last week's presidential election.

Moussavi is disputing the results of the vote that gave President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term and is calling for a new election.

The players took the wrist bands off when the team came out for the second half of the game that was taking place in Seoul, South Korea.

It is unclear whether the players were asked to remove the wrist bands.

The match ended 1-1.

Filed under: Elections •Iran •Protests


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June 17, 2009
Posted: 815 GMT

Latest from CNN.com:

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) - Thousands of Iranians planned to protest for a fifth day on Wednesday against an election they claimed had been manipulated - even as the government stepped up its crackdown, hauling dozens to jail, banning international journalists from filming rallies and blocking access to social networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook.

"We are fighting with our lives and the world is just watching," said Ali, a Tehran University student who did not want his full name used for his safety. "They see how the government is trying to silence us, how they are beating us - but they don't come to our help. It's OK. We will succeed, even if we have to fight alone."

Ali said he and his classmates will once again pick up placards, cover their faces with handkerchiefs and march Wednesday to demand the government annul the results of last week's balloting that kept hardline incumbent president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in power... Read full story

Filed under: Elections •Iran •Protests •Video


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