Iranian Court Shuts Down 3 Pro-Reform Newspapers as Dissent Continues to Simmer

Iran's judiciary has shut down three pro-reform newspapers, opposition Web sites reported Tuesday, in what appears to be a new effort to prevent protests against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The closures came several days after the appointment of two hard-line military veterans to security-related positions. Together, analysts said, the moves reflected the government's continued determination to suppress the dissent that has risen in the wake of the disputed June 12 presidential election.