Twitter stops upgrade for Iran

The political strife in Iran has spilled over onto the web as pro-government forces and the opposition go online to organise protests and rallies.

On Twitter, conversations containing the phrase '#iranelection' are currently at the top of the 'trend' list.

Security forces are allegedly monitoring conversations on Twitter as well as setting up accounts, posing as protesters to spread disinformation.

What is Twitter?

Realising how significant Twitter is as a communication tool in Iran, the micro-blogging network even suspended a critical network upgrade, which would have brought the service down for a while.

In the wake of last week's election, in which the incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won a landslide victory, Iranian authorities have been jamming the electronic frequencies, disrupting broadcasts and suspending internet servers.

In a posting on his blog Networked Culture, Esko Reinikainen, advised people on Twitter to keep in mind the gravity of the situation on the streets in Tehran.

He warned against retweeting impetuously and to confirm information with reliable sources before retweeting. This is particularly important where information from bogus accounts is being posted.

Twitter users have been poking fun at the President by posting creative Photoshopped images of Ahmadinejad.

Iran has a lively blogging culture despite being heavily monitored by the authorities. Even the President has his own blog called Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s Personal Memos.

Every posting begins with "In the Name of Almighty God, the All-Knowing, the Most Lovingly Compassionate".