Mousavi: I'm determined to continue fighting
Iranian reformist and former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi has said he is determined to continue fighting against the rigging of the presidential election despite pressure to stop.
Mousavi issued a statement on Thursday amid criticism from conservative parliamentarians and pro-government media that he caused illegal protests which left many casualties and that he should be prosecuted.
In his statement, Mousavi said that those responsible for the cruel killings during demonstrations against election fraud blamed the deaths on him. He noted he will never surrender to such pressure. Mousavi called on his supporters to continue non-violent protest and added action based on the idea of the 1979 Islamic Revolution could lead to victory.
In another sign of the widening post-election crackdown, Mousavi supporters revealed that 70 university professors were detained after meeting with him on Wednesday.
US launches a team to implement sanctions
The US government has launched a working team to implement sanctions against North Korea.
A State Department spokesman said on Friday that the government formed the working team in response to a UN Security Council resolution on North Korea's recent nuclear and missile tests.
He said former ambassador to Bolivia Philip Goldberg was appointed as head of the team.
The spokesman said Goldberg will visit countries concerned in the near future, accompanied by team members.
A senior US official said the working group is planning to visit China first. That country, North Korea's traditional ally, is cautious about stepping up pressure on the North.
President Barack Obama confirmed cooperation with Malaysia when he talked with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak by telephone on Friday.
Obama is thought to have asked for Malaysia's engagement in inspection of cargo ships. A North Korean ship, the Kang Nam, which is suspected of carrying weapons banned under the UN resolution, is believed to be traveling in waters near Malaysia.
CDC: US new flu infections may have topped million
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it estimates that more than one million people in the United States may have already been infected with the new flu.
Anne Schuchat of the CDC said on Friday that 27,717 cases have been confirmed in the United States, and 127 people have died. She said 6,000 new cases were reported just this week.
Schuchat said it is unusual for the infections to spread at a time of year when people are not continuing to get seasonal influenza viruses.
The official said the CDC estimates that about a million or more people in the US have been infected, based on a survey the city of New York conducted on its residents.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization said on Friday that worldwide confirmed cases of H1N1 virus infection are nearing 60,000.
The WHO says there have been 59,814 confirmed cases, and 263 people have died.
Infections are spreading in Chile, Australia, and other countries in the southern hemisphere where winter has arrived.
Director-General Margaret Chan told reporters that the H1N1 virus is stable and there was no sign of it mixing with other influenza viruses, such as avian flu. But she added that the influenza virus is highly unpredictable.
Iran's conservatives divided after election
Iran's conservative leaders appear divided over the handling of the presidential election and the protests that followed. Some have voiced warnings to the administration of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
On Friday, one of the most powerful clerics, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, called for ruthless and savage punishment of reformist protest leaders.
In a sermon in Tehran, he said the judiciary should prosecute leading rioters firmly and without mercy.
Iranian media outlets have reported that some conservative leaders have criticized the use of violence against protesters. Critics include Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Iran's security authorities are tightening control over protests by reformists who seek a fresh election.
US consumer spending up in May
US consumer spending was up in May for the first time in 3 months.
The Department of Commerce said Friday that consumer spending was up 0.3 of a percent on the month.
Sales of durable goods such as automobiles and furniture were up 0.8 of a percent, while sales of non-durable goods such as food and clothes were up half a percent.
Personal income was up 1.4 percent in May after growing by just half a percent in April. The May increase was the biggest in a year.
最終更新：2009年06月28日 07:09
