An Iranian opposition website is reporting that at least 4 protestors have been killed in clashes between demonstrators and authorities. The promised demonstrations during the Muslim festival of Ashura were augmented by the traditional 7th day mourning ritual for Ayatollah Montazeri. The combination proved too much for authorities although, according to this CNN story , they appeared to be trying very hard:
Police, wary of the potential that Ashura gatherings could present, were out in full force Sunday to quell disruptions but it did not stop demonstrators holding widespread protests.Near Imam Hussein Square in central Tehran, security forces used tear gas to disperse demonstrators and blocked roads to prevent more from arriving, a witness said.
Protesters seized a motorcycle belonging to a security force member and set it on fire.
Elsewhere in the city, witnesses reported seeing protesters being beaten with batons. Demonstrators chanted "death to the dictator" and some ripped down a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
Police helicopters hovered above city squares while small trucks brought in fresh supplies of riot police in parts where clashes were fierce.
Protesters played cat-and-mouse with security forces -- gathering, then scrambling and gathering elsewhere.
The unrest followed day-long clashes between the two sides in the streets of Tehran on Saturday.
On Saturday evening, a pro-government mob barged into a mosque where former president and reformist leader Mohammad Khatami was speaking.
The dozens-strong group forced Khatami to end his remarks abruptly when it interrupted the gathering at Jamaran mosque.
Earlier Saturday, scores of security forces on motorcycles charged protesters on sidewalks whenever they started chanting anti-government slogans, witnesses said.
Apparently, the religious police - the Basij - were out in force. They are generally on motorcycles and have been known to drive directly into crowds.
And getting ready to pay the mullahs a visit while the blood is still wet on their hands is John Kerry , no doubt looking for someone - anyone - to whom he can surrender.
Even Obama isn't that stupid.
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