Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:33:17 GMT

An underground network providing foreign media outlets with photos and footage of the post-election unrest has been identified and arrested in Iran.

Security forces said Wednesday that the network was comprised of pro-reform extremists who had contributed to the western media campaign against the newly-elected Ahmadinejad government.

At least two members of the group have confessed to providing media sources in the West with visual imagery depicting the post-election street violence, all in a bid to provoke anti-government sentiments and stage a regime change in Iran.

Iran saw a massive wave of street violence after demonstrators gathered in thousands to protest the 10th presidential election results. At least 20 people were killed and many others were injured when some protests turned violent.

The Tehran government blamed media sources in the West for the unprecedented unrest, claiming that the politically-motivated media coverage of the presidential polls is pushing the country toward a precipice.

“With the main goal of sowing ethnic discord, Western powers have interfered in the election process by hyperbolizing the protests staged against the Iranian poll results,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Hassan Qashqavi in the days that followed the election.

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