Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - June 5, 2003

I was at home. I was reading; summaries of two books by Iranians abroad: [Kian Katouzian], wife of Asghar Haj-Seyyed Javadi, and the Shah's bodyguard, Ali Shahbazi, who wrote about the atrocities of the Pahlavi family and courtiers. Effat went to Qom for the ceremony for the martyrs of Iraq at the house of the late Grand Ayatollah Haj Seyyed Abdol-Hadi Shirazi. I had lunch and dinner alone.

Today at the ceremony for the martyrs of June 5, 1963 (15 Khordad 1342), there were speeches and chants against the representatives, 127 of whom had written a letter of protest to the Leader. In Varamin, at the same ceremony where [Mr. Mousavi Lari], the Minister of Interior, gave a speech, there were chants against him and insults were made. In the Leader's speech yesterday at the shrine, referring to them, they were called foreign infiltrators, which led to chants by the crowd against them. Generally, in most cities where the representatives signed that letter, demonstrations are held against them, and usually everywhere, their speeches are prevented by popular forces. The Participation Front (Mosharekat) says these actions are organized and directed from a center. However, in Varamin, the chants were in reaction to Mr. Mousavi Lari's remarks, in which he had tried to draw a parallel between June 5 (15 Khordad) and June 2 (2 Khordad).

In Iraq, multiple attacks have been carried out against American and British forces, including in Fallujah and at the American forces' base at Al-Anbar University in [the city of] Ramadi. A newly established group called the Armed Party for the Liberation of Iraq announced that 12 Americans and Britons were wounded and 20 people were killed within 24 hours, and three tanks and four vehicles were destroyed. However, the Americans have admitted to the death of one soldier and the wounding of five. It seems such incidents are numerous in Iraq, but the Americans do not announce them. Perhaps most are carried out by Ba'athists and Saddam Hussein's fidayeen, and these soldiers have become serious targets for Iraqi mujahideen.

Hans Blix, the chief UN weapons inspector, today submitted his final report on Iraq to the Security Council and said that no new weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq, which will be problematic for the invaders.

In Afghanistan, foreign forces have been attacked in seven provinces. In Kandahar province, 50 people from both sides have been killed. American aircraft have also been deployed. Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, said in the British Parliament that Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, promised at the G8 meeting that if Iran does not sign the Additional Protocol (93+2), Russia will refuse to send fuel for the Bushehr nuclear power plant. However, the Russian Foreign Minister denied this; but it seems there was something to it.

Since yesterday, we have had rain, floods, and cold weather in the north, northeast, and northwest, which is unprecedented in this season.