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Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in for a
second term as Iran's president Wednesday while security forces
battled hundreds of protesters chanting "Death to the Dictator"
in the streets around parliament where the ceremony was held.


      Key opposition leaders, moderate lawmakers and all three of
Ahmadinejad's election challengers boycotted the swearing in
ceremony. State-run Press TV said more than 5,000 security forces
were in the streets around parliament and police with sniffer dogs
patrolled the area after the opposition called for demonstrations
to coincide with the inauguration.

      Hundreds of protesters chanted "Death to the Dictator" before
security forces broke up a demonstration near parliament, witnesses
said. Some wore black T-shirts in a sign of grief and others wore
green - the color of the opposition movement. A middle-aged woman
carried a banner warning Iran's leaders if they do not listen to
people's demands, they will face the same fate as Shah Mohammad
Reza Pahlavi, who was toppled in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.


      The ceremony capped almost two months of the worst political
turmoil in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The opposition
staged massive street protests and the crisis split Iran's clerical
leadership. Even conservatives from Ahmadinejad's own camp harshly
criticized the government over mistreatment of detained opposition
activists.


      In his inaugural address, Ahmadinejad seemed to tone down his
often-bellicose rhetoric and emphasized his plans to improve the
faltering economy. He demanded that Iran be on an equal footing
with other world powers and denounced foreign interference. The
government has accused the U.S. and the West of backing street
protests.


      "We must play a key role in the management of the world,"
Ahmadinejad said. "We will not remain silent. We will not tolerate
disrespect, interference and insults," he added. "I will spare no
effort to safeguard the frontiers of Iran."


      Ahmadinejad noted that some Western countries - including the
U.S., Britain, France, Germany and Italy - did not congratulate him
on his election win.


      "Some countries have not recognized the elections or extended
their congratulations. They do not respect the rights of other
nations, yet they recognize themselves as the yardstick for
democracy," he said, without naming specific countries. "Nobody
in Iran is waiting for anyone's congratulations," he added, to
cheers from lawmakers.


      A British Foreign Office spokesman said his country has serious
concerns over the election, Iran's contentious nuclear program and
human rights that must be addressed first.


      "There are many people inside Iran who have serious concerns
about the outcome and conduct of the election," said the
spokesman, who was not authorized to speak on the record. "We have
repeatedly called on the government of Iran to address these
concerns," he added. "It is not business as usual with Iran,
which is why we will not be sending a message of congratulations to
Ahmadinejad."


      Ahmadinejad did not directly address President Barack Obama's
outreach for the start of a dialogue on Iran's nuclear program,
which the U.S. suspects is geared toward producing weapons.


      But he said: "Iran is a nation of logic, dialogue and
constructive interaction. The basis of our foreign policy is wide
and constructive contacts with all nations and independent
governments based on justice, respect and friendship."

      The U.S. administration has given Iran a vague deadline of
September to respond positively to the outreach or face stiffened
sanctions. But U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
acknowledged recently that the election turmoil appears to have
paralyzed decision-making on the U.S. offer.


      "I don't think they have any capacity to make that kind of
decision right now," Clinton said.


      Iran's detention last week of three Americans who strayed across
the border while hiking in northern Iraq has added a new point of
friction in relations with the U.S.


      Ahmadinejad mentioned the election crisis only in passing,
without direct reference to the opposition or the huge street
protests and clashes since the June 12 vote. The opposition claims
Ahmadinejad was re-elected by fraud and pro-reform leader Mir
Hossein Mousavi was the true winner.


      Ahmadinejad said the Iranian people were the main winners of the
vote and foreign enemies stirred up "plenty of dust" that clouded
the issue.


      "They raised many questions on it and tried to portray a dark
future," he said.


      In an apparent warning to demonstrators, he said his government
would "resist any violation of law and interference."


      "We should join hands as we move forward to fulfill our
goals," he said.


      In contrast to past inauguration ceremonies, former presidents
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mohammad Khatami were absent. They are
two of the most powerful supporters of the opposition. Mousavi and
another pro-reform defeated presidential candidate, Mahdi Karroubi,
also stayed away.


      The only other conservative candidate in the election, Mohsen
Rezaei, also was absent. Rezaei, once commander of the powerful
Revolutionary Guards, has been the most outspoken critic of
Ahmadinejad and the election from within the president's own
conservative camp. He has led demands for high-level probes into
abuses after the son of his top aide died in detention. He was
arrested during a protest.


      Parliament speaker Ali Larijani said 273 out of total 290
Iranian lawmakers were present in the ceremony. But a Web site of
opposition in parliament said 53 of its lawmakers were not there.
It said some of them had walked out in protest when Ahmadinejad
began speaking.


      Hundreds of police deployed around parliament and two subway
stations nearby were closed to the public. Witnesses said at least
10 people were detained by police. Authorities have banned foreign
media from going out to cover any opposition activities, forcing
them to rely on witness accounts and tightly controlled state
media.


      In the days leading up to the inauguration, opposition groups
had called protesters into the streets to coincide with the
swearing in, spreading the word through postings on reformist Web
sites and blogs.


      The calls showed the protesters resolve to keep confronting the
government even though a harsh crackdown by security forces on any
street demonstrations has killed at least 30, according to Iran's
official toll. Human rights group suspect the death toll is far
higher.


      The opposition, and some powerful conservatives, have also been
angered by a mass trial for more than 100 pro-reform figures and
protesters set to resume Thursday. Among those on trial are many
prominent reformist activists and political figures, accused of
challenging the Islamic system.


      The trial added to the rifts within Iran's leadership over its
handling of the most serious domestic upheaval since the 1979
Islamic Revolution.


      Still, Ahmadinejad sought in his speech to show he was moving
ahead as a strong and legitimate leader despite the election
turmoil. For much of the address, he focused on bringing economic
and social justice in Iran, fighting corruption and improving the
economy. Those promises reflected the populist platform that has
gained him broad support among the country's poor, many of whom
feel that Iran's elite have made themselves rich off corruption.

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Politics and Government News

While Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in for a
second term as Iran's president Wednesday, protesters chanted "Death to the Dictator" in the streets surrounding the ceremony.

Ahmadinejad sworn in as Iran president amid crisis

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