An Iranian was shot dead during a banned opposition rally in Tehran, the semi-official Fars news agency reported, blaming opposition supporters for the shooting.
"One person was shot dead and several were wounded by seditionists (opposition supporters) who staged a rally in Tehran," Fars said, without giving further details.
Iranian security forces clashed with supporters of the opposition in the central city of Isfahan on Monday and arrested dozens of protesters at a banned rally backing uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, a witness said.
"There were clashes between security forces and protesters in Isfahan and dozens of people were arrested," the witness told Reuters by telephone.
Iranian security forces fired tear gas to scatter thousands of people marching on a Tehran square. "There are thousands of people marching ... not chanting slogans ... Security forces fired tear gas to disperse them near Imam Hossein square," said the witness.
The march was a test of strength for the reformist opposition, which had not taken to the streets since Dec. 2009, when eight people were killed. But Iranian security forces are still unlikely to hesitate to use any means to stop protests.
More at Haaretz
UPDATE: The Daily Beast has this great coverage
h/t Etobocoke Slim
EYE ON A CRAZY PLANET
Not going to be quite as easy for the masses to voice their dissent in Iran as it was in Egypt. The current regime seemingly has no qualms about a swift and violent response to protest.
ReplyDeleteAt 6:50 Etobicoke Slim posted this comment at another post, which I'm fairly certain he meant for this one:
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, sometimes the hypocrites, monarchists, ruffians, and seditionists will stand up to brutality and suppression: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-02-15/iran-protests-why-the-green-movement-wont-quit/
Great link, Slim!
ReplyDelete