“The UN created the ‘Galbraith fiasco’ by firing me at this time,” Galbraith said. “Inevitably people were going to ask why. And Abdullah’s strong comments came before my letter leaked and before I spoke to the media.”

Galbraith is referring to the letter he wrote to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, published by The New York Times today, saying UNAMA can’t “overlook the fraud without compromising our neutrality and becoming complicit in a cover-up.” Abdullah Abdullah, the Afghan presidential candidate whom Hamid Karzai has (probably) defeated, said through an aide, that “By firing someone like Peter Galbraith from his post, it is the first sign that fraud is victorious over the law.”

Ban Ki-moon, the secretary-general of the United Nations, put out a statement similar to what we’ve heard from President Obama, urging an end to the violence and for the regime to “respect fundamental civil and political rights, especially the freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of information.” Reuters’ write-up says Ban calls on the regime and the opposition to resolve their differences through “peaceful means.” But without a re-vote, what’s the path for a peaceful de-escalation of hostilities?

Meanwhile, Nico Pitney from The Huffington Post is heading to the White House for President Obama’s press conference at 12:30 p.m., and is asking Iranians to send him questions to ask should he get called on. It would be a very good thing for Obama to call on Nico, without whom we’d know so much less about what’s happening in Iran.

Pillay expressed particular concern about reported acts of violence by members of the Basij militia, which may also be in contravention of international and Iranian national law. “I strongly urge the authorities to ensure that official and semi-official forces act strictly in accordance with the law,” she said. “It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that militia members and regular law enforcement agencies do not resort to illegal acts of violence. If they are perceived to be acting outside the law, it could provoke a serious deterioration in the security situation, which would be a great tragedy and is in nobody’s interests.”

This is Pillay’s first statement on the Iran violence, and I think that makes it the most thorough U.N. statement thus far, at least since Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s Monday statement that the regime needed to respect popular will as it reviews the June 12 election returns. Pillay also explicitly “commended the largely peaceful and dignified conduct of the huge demonstrations that have been taking place in the Iranian capital, Teheran.”

According to a piece Ghaemi put up at The Huffington Post on Wednesday, statements from U.N. officials are the best way to show support for the Iranian opposition without undermining it:

Iran must be told that its further reliance on violence, curtailment of civil liberties and basic freedoms, widespread arbitrary detentions and disappearances will not earn it public peace or international legitimacy. That message should be delivered by United Nations officials, particularly the Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay.