Mourners pay respects to former Iranian leader Rafsanjani

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Mourners are paying respect to former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani as Iran observes three days of mourning following his death.

President Hassan Rouhani and his administration on Monday appeared at a mosque in northern Tehran, where Rafsanjani's body was brought.

Residents in the Iranian capital also expressed their grief at the loss of Rafsanjani, who suffered a heart attack on Sunday and died at the age of 82.

CAPTION CORRECTS THE LOCATION OF THE CHILDREN - Hassan Khomeini, center, grandson of Iran's late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, mourns over the coffin of former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, as Rafsanjani's son Mahdi, second left, comforts his sister Fatemeh, at the Jamaran mosque in northern Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017. Rafsanjani died Sunday after a decades-long career in the ruling elite, where his moderate views were not always welcome but his cunning guided him through revolution, war and the country's turbulent politics. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Maziar Rezaei, a real estate agent, told The Associated Press: "I don't know who is going to fill his place. He kept Iran safe from hard-liners for so long."

Zahra Qorbani, a tailor, says she is worried about her children's future. She described the late leader as a "man who always tried to fix Iran's relations with neighbors and the world."

Hassan Khomeini, center, grandson of Iran's late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, mourns over the coffin of former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani at the Jamaran mosque in northern Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017. Rafsanjani died Sunday after a decades-long career in the ruling elite, where his moderate views were not always welcome but his cunning guided him through revolution, war and the country's turbulent politics. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Family members, relatives, and officials mourn while surrounding the coffin of Iran's former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, top left, at the Jamaran mosque in northern Tehran, Iran, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017. Rafsanjani died Sunday after a decades-long career in the ruling elite, where his moderate views were not always welcome but his cunning guided him through revolution, war and the country's turbulent politics. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

FILE -- In this May 11, 2013 file photo, former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, waves to journalists, as he registers his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election, with his daughter Fatemeh, second right, at the interior ministry, in Tehran, Iran. Iranian state media said Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017 that Rafsanjani has died at age 82 after having been hospitalized because of a heart condition. Rafsanjani, who served as president from 1989 to 1997, was a leading politician who often played kingmaker in the country's turbulent politics. He supported President Hassan Rouhani. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)

FILE -- In this Aug. 4, 2013 file photo, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani., right, and former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, wave, as they arrive for Rouhani's swearing-in ceremony at the parliament, in Tehran, Iran. Iranian state media said Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017 that Rafsanjani has died at age 82 after having been hospitalized because of a heart condition. Rafsanjani, who served as president from 1989 to 1997, was a leading politician who often played kingmaker in the country's turbulent politics. He supported President Rouhani. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)</s>Rafsanjani, who served two terms as Iran's president from 1989 to 1997, continued to be an influential figure in Iranian politics.

At the time of his death he was the chairman of the Expediency Council, which aims to settle disputes between the country's parliament and the Guardian Council.

Throughout his political career, the former president was seen as a conduit for better relations with the West.

In a sign of mourning, state television channel Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN) aired a black banner on the corner of its broadcast.

Rafsanjani was a vocal supporter of current Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. After his death, Rouhani posted praise on Twitter for the former president who once earned the nicknamed Akbar Shah, or Great King. "The spirit of the giant of the revolution and politics, the symbol of patience and resilience has soared to the skies," the tweet said. Rafsanjani was seen as a key figure in Iran's moderate movement, losing a presidential bid against the former hardline Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2005. During Ahmadinejad's 2009 re-election campaign, Rafsanjani became a vocal critic, chiding the election results that gave Ahmadinejad another overwhelming victory. "Ahmadinajad was largely seen as representing lower-class citizens, whereas Rafsanjani's support base came from upper middle class ... so to a degree, it was a class divide," said Mohammad Marandi, an Associate Professor of North American Studies at Tehran University. "He was one of the most intelligent people to ever enter Iranian politics. His alliances changed and shifted as he went along, which is not to say he was unprincipled. He was just very good at politics," said Marandi, whose father served as the minister of health in Rafsanjani's administration. Rafsanjani was widely respected in political circles, even amongst his adversaries, Marandi added. But among Iran's people his legacy appears more mixed. "His critics were unhappy with his liberal economic policies, which they say widened the gap between the rich and poor. Whereas his supporters say those policies helped build crucial infrastructure for the country," Marandi said. "I received the news of the sudden death of my old friend, companion in the years of the Islamic struggle ... with sorrow and woe," Khamenei said in a statement. "With the passing of Hashemi, there is no other person I know of with whom I share the long and common experiences of the highs and lows of these historic times."</s>Rafsanjani, who served two terms as Iran's president from 1989 to 1997, continued to be an influential figure in Iranian politics.

At the time of his death he was the chairman of the Expediency Council, which aims to settle disputes between the country's parliament and the Guardian Council.

Throughout his political career, the former president was seen as a conduit for better relations with the West.

In a sign of mourning, state television channel Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN) aired a black banner on the corner of its broadcast.

Rafsanjani was a vocal supporter of current Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. After his death, Rouhani posted praise on Twitter for the former president who once earned the nicknamed Akbar Shah, or Great King. "The spirit of the giant of the revolution and politics, the symbol of patience and resilience has soared to the skies," the tweet said. Rafsanjani was seen as a key figure in Iran's moderate movement, losing a presidential bid against the former hardline Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2005. During Ahmadinejad's 2009 re-election campaign, Rafsanjani became a vocal critic, chiding the election results that gave Ahmadinejad another overwhelming victory. "Ahmadinajad was largely seen as representing lower-class citizens, whereas Rafsanjani's support base came from upper middle class ... so to a degree, it was a class divide," said Mohammad Marandi, an Associate Professor of North American Studies at Tehran University. "He was one of the most intelligent people to ever enter Iranian politics. His alliances changed and shifted as he went along, which is not to say he was unprincipled. He was just very good at politics," said Marandi, whose father served as the minister of health in Rafsanjani's administration. Rafsanjani was widely respected in political circles, even amongst his adversaries, Marandi added. But among Iran's people his legacy appears more mixed. "His critics were unhappy with his liberal economic policies, which they say widened the gap between the rich and poor. Whereas his supporters say those policies helped build crucial infrastructure for the country," Marandi said. "I received the news of the sudden death of my old friend, companion in the years of the Islamic struggle ... with sorrow and woe," Khamenei said in a statement. "With the passing of Hashemi, there is no other person I know of with whom I share the long and common experiences of the highs and lows of these historic times."</s>The Niger Government has declared a three-day mourning in honour of late former governor Abdulkadir Kure of the state. Mr Jonathan Vatsa, the state Commissioner for Information, announced this in a statement in Minna on Sunday.

The government also directed that all flags should be at hoisted at half-mast throughout the state during the mourning period. According to Vatsa, Gov. Abubakar Bello, has also declared a work-free day on the day of the burial of the former governor to enable all Nigerlites accord the departed leader a befitting burial.

Vatsa said that the State Government would miss the wise counsel of the former governor, who despite political differences never failed to offer meaningful advice to the present administration.

He recalled that the intervention of the deceased during the recent labour crisis in the state was not only legendary but showed him as an elder statesman whose main concern was for the good, progress and unity of the state.

“Engineer Abdulkadir Abdullahi Kure remain a leader who out of office showed concern for the development of our state,” the commissioner said.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has extended his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Niger State on the passing of the former governor.

President Buhari also commiserated with wife of the deceased, Zaynab Kure, and her children, all the Kure family and the Nupe people, on the unfortunate demise of their illustrious son.

Buhari payed tribute to Mr. Kure’s unselfish dedication to the progress of his state, symbolised by his selfless services to his community even after leaving office.

He prayed that the Almighty Allah will receive Governor Kure’s soul and comfort all who mourn him.

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Also, Like us on facebook</s>Mourners are paying respect to former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani as Iran observes three days of mourning following his death.

Start the conversation, or Read more at Valley Morning Star.</s>The post UPDATE: Niger Government declares 3-day mourning for late ex-Governor Kure appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.</s>The Niger State Government has formally announced the death of a former Governor of the State, Engineer Abdulkadir Abdullahi Kure.

 Kure died during a brief illness in a German Hospital on Sunday at the age of 61.

 In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Jonathan Vatsa, in Minna on Sunday night, the state government declared a three-day statewide mourning.

 It further stated that all flags should be at half mast throughout the state during the mourning period.

 According to the Commissioner, the state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has also declared a work-free day on the day of the burial of the former governor to enable all Nigerlites accord the departed leader a befitting burial.

 The statement said the government will miss the wise counsel of the former governor, who despite political differences never failed to offer meaningful advice to the government.

 The intervention of the former governor during the recent labour crisis in the state was not only legendary, but showed him as an elder statesman, whose main concern was for the good, progress and unity of the state, the statement by Vatsa added.

 “Engineer Abdulkadir Abdullahi Kure remain a leader who out of office showed concern for the development of the state. His statesmanship saw him jettisoning party affiliation when he personally intervened in the recent labour crisis in the state,” the statement concluded.

Copyright The Eagle Online.

 Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.theeagleonline.com.ng as the source.</s>London, 9 Jan - Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the Iranian Resistance has expressed hope that the death of the former Iranian President, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, would lead to a downfall of the brutal dictatorship in Iran.

She said: “With the death of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, one of the two pillars and keys to the equilibrium of the religious fascism ruling Iran has collapsed and the regime in its entirety is approaching overthrow.”

It is believed that his death will be a setback to the re-election campaign of current President Hassan Rouhani.

Rajavi, who leads the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), continued: “Rafsanjani, who had always been the regime's number two, acted as its balancing factor and played a decisive role in its preservation. Now, the regime will lose its internal and external equilibrium.”

Rafsanjani, who died on Sunday, January 8, was President from 1989-1997; during the time, he also headed the Assembly of Experts (who nominate the supreme leader) and the Expediency Council (who advises the supreme leader).

He is occasionally portrayed as a moderate, due to his opposition of the “hardline” President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; however, there are no real moderates within the Iranian Regime.

Moderates do not imprison or kill political opponents, nor do they help to organise a terrorist attack on a Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires which kills 85 people, nor do they pursue nuclear weapons.

The real reason for the criticism? Ahmadinejad had beaten Rafsanjani in the 2005 Presidential Race when Rafsanjani hoped to make a comeback.
The Iranian government declares three days of national mourning following the death of the former president and one of the key figures in the Islamic Republic.