Iran Election Diary

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, today formally endorsed Mahmud Ahmadinejad for a second term as president in a ceremony that was snubbed by prominent critics of the disputed election, including former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

After Khamenei gave his official seal of approval, Ahmadinejad made an unusual move: he kissed him on the shoulder.

Four years ago during the same ceremony Ahmadinejad kissed Khamenei's hand in a show of absolute loyalty.

A Tehran-based journalist said on Facebook that because of the strong backing Ahmadinejad has received from Khamenei, he should have kissed his feet.

In today's ceremony, the exchange between the two men seemed awkward (see video here).

The ceremony cleared the way for Ahmadinejad to take the oath of office on August 5 in parliament, where some of the pro-reform lawmakers have echoed the claims of fraud in the June 12 election.

Some members of the opposition are already getting ready to protest on August 5 and express their discontent over Ahmadinejad's reelection.

Iranians have posted on Facebook and blogs a picture (see top) of today's ceremony next to one from four years ago to highlight the differences, including the mood.

-- Golnaz Esfandiari

Here's youtube video of the mother of the late Sohrab Arabi, a 19-year-old among those killed during the postelection crackdown, speaking at Tehran's Behesht Zahra Cemetery to mark the 40th day since the death of Neda Agha Soltan and a number of other Iranians who were killed during protests in Tehran on June 20.

One of the things she says is that "our children are alive, everybody in the world knows their names."



It's important to stay mindful that these are who have been killed or remain missing.

Definitive lists of those dead, detained, or missing are hard to come by, although groups like the International Campaign For Human Rights In Iran are making monumental efforts.

Here's Sohrab Arabi's brother at the same cemetery on July 30, reading out the names of Iranians -- sons, daughters, brothers, sisters -- confirmed dead or presumed to have been killed since June 12.



-- Golnaz Esfandiari/Andy Heil