Iran police fire tear gas at opposition rally in Tehran

14 February 2011 Last updated at 10:41 ET

Security forces and crowds gather in Azadi Avenue, central Tehran Security services have kept a high profile in Tehran to try to prevent rallies

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  • Iranian police have fired tear gas at opposition demonstrators gathering in central Tehran in support of the protests in Egypt.

    A BBC producer in the Iranian capital, who was affected by the gas, described central Tehran as “total chaos”.

    He said “severe clashes” were taking place between protesters and police and there had been many arrests.

    Iranian police have placed opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi under house arrest, his official website says.

    It says the move is intended to block him from attending the rally in Tehran.

    The BBC’s Mohsen Asgari in Tehran says thousands of people defied the government ban and gathered in the city centre chanting “death to dictators”.

    Riot police and plainclothes police backed by the Republican Guards used tear gas to disperse the protesters, he adds, and many were arrested.

    Other witnesses said police also fired paintball guns at demonstrators.

    There are also reports of pro-opposition rallies in the cities of Isfahan and Shiraz.

    Internet blocked

    Mr Mousavi’s detention is the latest in a series of arrests of people linked to Mr Mousavi and fellow opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi, who is also under house arrest.

    Several opposition groups had vowed to take part in the protest, although officials have banned the gathering.

    Although Iran’s establishment officially supports the Egyptian popular protests, it says the rallies are a “political move” by the two opposition leaders.

    Authorities have stepped up security in the capital, blocked access to internet sites, and started jamming satellite news channels.
    Activist being pulled off the crane A man who climbed a crane in Tehran was arrested
    Analysts say Tehran is trying to stop opposition groups from using the Egypt rally as a means to re-ignite anti-government protests – last seen in December 2009 – against the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

    In an unusual move, an activist climbed a tall crane in central Tehran on Monday morning and began inviting people to attend today’s rally.

    The protester was later arrested by police.

    Also on Monday morning, Iranian police vans blocked the lane leading to the house of Mr Mousavi and disconnected his mobile phones and land lines, his website Kaleme.com said.

    Last week, almost a dozen people close to Mr Mousavi were detained.

    Both the Iranian government and the opposition have claimed credit for the recent popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt.

    The government says the mass protests were inspired by Iran’s 1979 revolution, while the opposition says it was its 2009 protests that encouraged the unrest.

    Are you in Iran? Will you be joining any protests? Or have you witnessed any of these events? You can send us your experiences using the form below:

About Eeyore

Canadian artist and counter-jihad and freedom of speech activist as well as devout Schrödinger's catholic

3 Replies to “Iran police fire tear gas at opposition rally in Tehran”

  1. So far they are being gentle with the protesters, I doubt if this will last, the Revolutionary Guards will be turned loose and a lot of people will die.

  2. The people of Iran are still pissed off at the regime for the stolen election last year, and the 7th century rules laid down by the Mullahs.

  3. Yeah they are pissed, but if the Revolutionary Guard remain loyal and will fire on the protesters the government will hold onto power.