Breaking - Mahmoud Ahmadinjad's convoy attacked

[weemadando]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010 ... 973633.htm

On my mobile so without comment for now.

[Serafina]

The article itself:

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has survived an attack on his convoy in Iran, Lebanon's Future television quoted the Iranian presidency as saying.

Al Arabiya television said an attacker had thrown a bomb at Mr Ahmadinejad's convoy before being detained.

Both television reports said some people had been wounded in the attack.

Dubai-based Al Arabiya cited its own sources as saying the bomb had hit a car carrying journalists and presidential staff.

Mr Ahmadinejad later appeared on live Iranian television at a sports stadium in the western city of Hamadan.

He was apparently well and made no mention of any attack.

Not much information. Ahmadinejad is apparently still alive, and it appears like it was a lone attacker.
I have no idea of the possible consequences or backgrounds, tough - so no further comment.

[Temujin]

Well Iran's denying it. Not sure if this could be spin as Ireallyneedajob would likely milk something like this for all its worth.

Iran denies reports of Ahmadinejad attack
State-run TV says explosion near president's convoy was caused by 'firecracker'

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran denied reports that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's convoy sustained a grenade attack on Wednesday, according to state-run Press TV.

Citing a source within the president's office, the broadcaster said "no such attack took place."

"It was a firecracker," an official in the Ahmadinejad's media office told the Agence France-Presse news agency.

The BBC reported that state-run Arabic-language TV channel Al Alam reported that someone in the crowd set off the firecracker to cheer the president.

Earlier reports suggested that several people were wounded and that authorities had arrested one person.

Al Arabiya television reported that an attacker had thrown an explosive at Ahmadinejad's convoy before being detained. The bomb hit a car transporting journalists and presidential staff, the network said.

Conservative website khabaronline.ir said the device exploded about 100 yards away from the president's vehicle. "The explosion caused a lot of smoke," it said. The BBC noted that the report is no longer available on the site.

"It wouldn't be surprising if the president's office tries to play this down. It's very difficult to say who could be behind it," IHS Global insight Middle East analyst Gala Riani told Reuters. Riani added that the president often travels outside Tehran, but that at most, "There have been occasions when people have thrown things at him or heckled him but that has been it."

Local Iranian TV and radio did not immediately report on the incident, NBC News said.

Images of Ahmadinejad traveling through the city of Hamedan showed him smiling and waving to crowds gathered along the route through the roof of a car.

Ahmadinejad was en route to make a speech at a sports stadium in the western city of at the time of the reported incident. During his appearance on live Iranian television, he made no mention of any assault.

During a speech to a conference of expatriate Iranians in Tehran on Monday, Ahmadinejad said he believed he was the target of an assassination plot by Israel. "The stupid Zionists have hired mercenaries to assassinate me," he said.

The populist, hard-line Ahmadinejad has accumulated enemies in conservative and reformist circles in the Islamic Republic as well as abroad.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report

[Solauren]

During a speech to a conference of expatriate Iranians in Tehran on Monday, Ahmadinejad said he believed he was the target of an assassination plot by Israel. "The stupid Zionists have hired mercenaries to assassinate me," he said.

I hate to burst Ahmadinejad's bubble, but I can't see anyone outside of Iran wanting to assassinate him. Or at least trying.

Because that would make him a Martyr, and add alot of weight to his actions and messages, that would make him more popular.

Any external organization with a braincell will simply wait for someone from inside Iran to 'deal' with him in some way. This leaves the external organization blameless, and depending on who and what happens, would weaken Ahmadinejad's action and messages severly.

"The West is Evil" (Que Assassination by outside forces). Well, now his movement has proof.
"The West is Evil!" (Que Assassination by Iran-native factions). Well, now his movement has a more pressing problem.

[Pelranius]

Going to the official account, why can't it be an attacker using a firecracker?

[Kanastrous]

No matter who brings him down - assuming someone does - it won't matter: The Evil West will *always* be behind it, no matter what really transpires.