Per Al-Jazeera, thousands of Iranians have filled the streets of Tehran and elsewhere in protest of election results. The situation has deteriorated to “the biggest unrest since the 1979 revolution.” Violence intensified after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on national television the vote was “completely free” and Iran should now celebrate a “great victory.”

Twitterers reported that Facebook, YouTube, Friend Feed, and a host of other social networking sites including Twitter itself had been blocked on Saturday, as well as a number of news sites. It was also reported that cell phone service was down throughout the country and Internet was running abnormally slow. Many Iranians are still managing to tweet through third-party applications.

Al-Arabiya reports that at least three people have died during riots in Tehran. Rumors of dead are rampant among Iranians on Twitter, ranging from a few to 100.

1. 
   ramezanpour (Tehran, Iran) OMG! RT @keyvan:I hope it’s not true but it’s most likely true: riot police has killed some people in Tehran. This can worsen the situation. 13 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck
2. 
   KeyvanGheissari (Tehran, Iran) Rumors: 12 people killed in Tehran, 8 in Shiraz, can not confirm. What I saw was strong violence and beating of men, women and elders. 13 Jun 2009 from web
3. 
   y_shar (Tehran, Iran) True? RT @TehranBureau Between 50-100 dead Police on motorcycles beating ppl drive by attacking women #iran – TehranBureau http://ow.ly/dVQB 13 Jun 2009 from Seesmic Desktop
4. 
   y_shar (Tehran, Iran) I heard that 27 people were killed during the riot… Can anyone confirm this? 13 Jun 2009 from Seesmic Desktop

Twitterers are also reporting that foreign journalists are being asked to leave the country. The Washington Post correspondent in Tehran, normally active on Twitter, has posted few messages since that announcement:

1. 
   Thomas_Erdbrink (Tehran, Iran) Ahmadinejad pressconference tomorrow at 2 pm. #Iranelections 14 Jun 2009 from web
2. 
   Thomas_Erdbrink (Tehran, Iran) and many more things which I can’t mention now. #iranelections 14 Jun 2009 from web

Human rights attorney Lily Mazahery, well-connected in Iran, has been outraged by the developments involving journalists.

1. 
   LilyMazahery (Washington, D.C./New York) If so much as a single hair is touched on any of my journo friends inside Iran, I’ll be holding Ahmadinejad and crew responsible. Even 1. 13 Jun 2009 from Seesmic Desktop
2. 
   LilyMazahery (Washington, D.C./New York) Non state-controlled media have been taken hostage in Iran by govt officials. I’m fed up with totalitarians punishing journalists. 14 Jun 2009 from Seesmic Desktop
3. 
   LilyMazahery (Washington, D.C./New York) Journo friends in Iran are still being prevented by govt officials from communicating with me. This is truly truly truly absurd. 14 Jun 2009 from Seesmic Desktop

Some Iranians tweeted developments on Saturday as best they could, relaying what they’re hearing and the latest information as protests continue.

1. 
   mohamadreza (Tehran, Iran) It is not officially approved by any of candidates but its spreading: Tuesday national strike in Iran. #iranelection 13 Jun 2009 from web
2. 
   iran09 (Tehran, Iran) Massive arrests are the sign of a coup! Help us to a REVOLUTION! #iranelection #newiran 13 Jun 2009 from TwitterFox
3. 
   y_shar (Tehran, Iran) The rumors are spreading faster… Is it true that the people have taken over the police station at Tajrish Sq. ?!?! #IranElection 13 Jun 2009 from Seesmic Desktop
4. 
   mohamadreza (Tehran, Iran) Great news 4:18 AM: Mehdi Karrubi one of our reformist candidates was among protesters in ValiAsr Sq. just hours ago #iranelection 13 Jun 2009 from web
5. 
   tehranelection (Tehran, Iran) On my street, the crowd is pushing the police to the side. 14 Jun 2009 from web

Related post: A look back at election night, live tweets from the closing of polls to official word on the winner

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