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Iran opposition clashes with security forces

By Channel 4 News

Updated on 11 February 2010

Government supporters in Iran mark the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution in central Tehran as opposition protests are broken up by police.

Protesters in Tehran on the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution. (Credit: Getty)

Thwarted by police and outnumbered by pro-government supporters, Iran's opposition green movement has largely failed to mount the show of strength promised for Revolution day.

Thousands rallied for the official celebrations in Azadi Square, while just to the north opposition supporters gathered in Saddeqiya square where opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi was attacked as he tried to join the crowd.

Heavy security prevented the planned large opposition gatherings in Enqelab and Haft-e-Tir squares. But a small group of protesters did manage to protest outside Evin prison where many political detainees are being held.

During his address in Tehran earlier, President Ahmadinejad announced that Iran was capable of enriching uranium to more than 80 per cent purity, coming close to levels experts say would be needed for a nuclear bomb, although he said that was not the country's intention.

Gordon Brown has responded with a warning that the international community is running out of patience with his regime.

The prime minister said: "This is a critical time for Iran's relationships with the rest of the world, but also for the Iranian regime's relationships with its own people.


"I think the choice could not be clearer.

"Iran can either pursue a civilian nuclear programme, respect human rights and earn the trust and respect of the international community.

"Or it can move ahead with its nuclear weapons programme, trample on human rights and be isolated and ostracised on the wrong side of history, outside the international community.

"I want dialogue with Iran, but the patience of our countries is not inexhaustible."

An Iranian opposition website, Green Voice, claimed security forces fired shots and teargas at supporters of opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi staging a rally.

Some campaigners took their demonstration quite literally underground with video emerging of a protest on one of Tehran's metro trains. The group is heard chanting "death to the dictator".

YouTube footage shows people singing an old revolutionary song but substituting "traitor leader" with "traitor Shah", while another video shows protesters stamping on a poster of the Ayatollah.

Security forces attacked opposition leader Mehdi Karoubi and moderate former president Mohammad Khatami when they tried to get to the rally, according to Mr Karoubi's son.

He told CNN that members of the Basij, the paramilitary force loyal to Iran's hard-line leadership, attacked Mr Karrubi's car, smashing the windscreen.

The opposition website Jaras also reported that security forces briefly detained a granddaughter of late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and her husband on Thursday.


Zahra Eshraqi and her husband Mohammad Reza Khatami -a brother of reformist former president Mohammad Khatami - were later freed, Jaras said.

Official events centred around Tehran's Azadi square, also known as Freedom Square, where President Ahmadinejad told a flag-waving crowd that Iran was now a nuclear state.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that authorities are trying to suspend Google's e-mail service, Gmail. Internet connections have frequently been slow or unreliable during times of political turmoil over the past eight months.

For more Channel 4 News coverage on Iran
- Iran: the same mistakes, 31 years later
- Iran nuclear plans: UN sanctions 'within weeks'
- Bahari: ordeal of terror and absurdity
- Briton caught up in Iran internet wars
- Iran students use Twitter to defy authorities
- Blog: Jon Snow recalls 'moment in history'

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