Iran: The Volcano Erupts- Video

[Update] More video added below original post.


Video below found via Twitter. By the time you get to the bottom message on Twitter page #IranElection, then hit refresh, more entries take place at an unbelievably fast pace.

In going through Twitter, I will update some things, only if I can find some type of verification, which is difficult considering news agencies are being banned from areas of protest.

For example, one Tweet spoke about Gmail being blocked now by the Iranian government, so looking it up, I found this from ShortNews and this from TechWhack.

Market reports suggest that the Iranian government has now blocked access to Google search engine and Gmail webmail service in the country.

This block is part of their efforts to block access to material deemed to be offensive on the internet.

The news was reported in an article on the Mehr news agency. Hamid Shahriari, the secretary of Iran’s National Council of Information was quoted as saying: “I can confirm these sites have been filtered.”

ShortNews confirms and claims the sites have now been unblocked by Iran.

There is no way to keep up with all the Twitter pages and messages, so go there, keep refreshing for the latest news out of Iran.

Constant updates also found at NiaclNsight where they are liveblogging the Iran protests and news.

[Update] Video coverage of "16 JUNE 2009 - Doctors and nurses are protesting in a major hospital in Tehran - Iran"



[Update] Photos coming out of Iran, via Flickr.

[Update] YouTube "Islamic police in Iran."



[Update] State Department encouraging Twitter to stay up and getting info from them, via CNN.

By necessity, the US is staying hands off of the election drama playing out in Iran, and officials say they are not providing messages to Iranians or “quarterbacking” the disputed election process.

But they do want to make sure the technology is able to play its sorely-needed role in the crisis, which is why the State Department is advising social networking sites to make sure their networks stay up and running for Iranians to use them and helping them stay ahead of anyone who would try to shut them down.

For example, senior officials say the State Department asked Twitter to refrain for going down for periodic scheduled maintenance at this critical time to ensure the site continues to operate. Bureau’s and offices across the State Department, they say, are paying very close attention to Twitter and other sites to get information on the situation in Iran.

Because the US has no relations with Iran and does not have an embassy there, it is relying on media reports and the State Department’s Iran Watch Offices in embassies around the world. The largest such offices are in Dubai, Berlin and London, all home to large Iranian expat communities.

But officials say the internet, and specifically social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, are providing the United States with critical information in the face of a crackdown on journalists by Iranian authorities.

“There are lots of people here watching,” one senior official said. “There are some interesting messages going up.”

(Note- I am trying to stick to the videos and photos and only reports that can be confirmed.)

All posts regarding Iran election can be found on one page here.

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