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Rally 'attack' on Iran opposition Clashes erupt at Iran mass rally
(about 2 hours later)
Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi has come under attack in Tehran during an annual rally in support of Palestinians, reports say. Thousands of opposition supporters have clashed with security forces during a government-sponsored rally in Tehran.
Mr Mousavi was forced to leave the rally for Quds Day after an attack on his car, official news agency Irna reported. Iran's reformists had been warned not to try to turn the pro-Palestinian Quds (Jerusalem) Day marches into anti-government protests.
In a separate incident ex-President Mohammad Khatami was knocked to the ground, a reformist website reported. Reports say opposition leaders Mir-Hossein Mousavi and former President Mohammad Khatami were attacked.
Thousands have taken to the streets of Tehran for the rally. The opposition has been banned from holding rallies since the disputed presidential election in June.
As part of the Quds Day events, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivered a speech in which he repeated his view that the Nazi Holocaust was a myth.
Tear gas
The Quds Day rallies are held annually on the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
ANALYSIS BBC former Tehran correspondent Jim MuirANALYSIS BBC former Tehran correspondent Jim Muir
In the absence of unfettered reporting, it's hard to get an accurate picture of the scale of the opposition turnout in the Jerusalem Day marches, and the seriousness of the ensuing clashes and incidents. Thousands of opposition protesters rose to the call of their leaders.
But the impression is that the event did not see the re-ignition of the opposition cause and the launching of a dynamic new phase in its career, over two months after it was last able to make a show of strength on the streets. It was the first time in two months they have been out on the streets in numbers.
Reformist opponents of the controversially re-elected President Ahmadinejad seem to have been massively outnumbered by system loyalists eager to demonstrate their support for the president and his patron, the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. There have been mounting calls in right-wing circles for reformist leaders to be arrested, as hundreds of their followers have been. That could be the next phase of the drama.
Initial reports of skirmishes, beatings and arrests did not speak of massive confrontations but minor incidents involving small numbers of people. The protests may not have achieved much in themselves but they have shown that the movement is still alive and defiant and the country, and its political system, remain deeply divided.
Iranian authorities had warned the opposition not to stage anti-government protests during Quds (Jerusalem) Day. That is not what Mr Ahmadinejad wanted to see as he prepares for important exchanges with the outside world.
The rallies are held nationwide every year on the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. The day began peacefully, with thousands of Mr Ahmadinejad's supporters marching through central Tehran.
Protesters shouted slogans in support of Mr Mousavi, a key opponent of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, during the rally. But despite warnings by the authorities not to try to hijack the event, protesters shouted slogans in support of Mr Mousavi, a key opponent of the president.
Mr Mousavi was defeated by the president in June's disputed presidential election. Reports say there were clashes between police and protesters as the march progressed, with some arrests. Stones were thrown, and police used tear gas.
Although it is an officially sponsored occasion, opposition leaders who have continued to reject the re-election of Mr Ahmadinejad had called on their followers to turn out. Iranian state-run channel Press TV showed footage of an opposition rally, with many supporters wearing green, the colour adopted by supporters of Mr Mousavi.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps said it would deal "decisively" with any effort to stage an opposition protest. Mr Mousavi was forced to leave the rally after his car was attacked, the official Irna news agency reported.
There have been mounting calls in hard-line circles for opposition leaders to be prosecuted, and predictions from reformists that they could be arrested soon, says the BBC's former Tehran correspondent Jim Muir. Witnesses said supporters helped Mr Mousavi into his car when hardliners approached and the vehicle sped away as a crowd tried to hold the hardliners back.
Ahmadinejad speech Reformist website Parlemennews.ir reported that Mr Khatami was pushed to the ground and his turban knocked off, before police intervened.
The day began peacefully with thousands of Mr Ahmadinejad's supporters marching along roads in central Tehran.
POST-ELECTION EVENTS 12 June: Millions vote in presidential election. Turnout put at 85%13 June: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared winner with 62.6%. Rival candidates challenge the result and allege vote-rigging Mass opposition protests in days that follow. At least 30 people are killed and 4,000 arrested19 June: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei backs the result and warns against further protests1 Aug: Trials begin of hundreds arrested over the unrest. Senior opposition leaders among the defendants5 Aug: President Ahmadinejad sworn in for second termPOST-ELECTION EVENTS 12 June: Millions vote in presidential election. Turnout put at 85%13 June: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared winner with 62.6%. Rival candidates challenge the result and allege vote-rigging Mass opposition protests in days that follow. At least 30 people are killed and 4,000 arrested19 June: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei backs the result and warns against further protests1 Aug: Trials begin of hundreds arrested over the unrest. Senior opposition leaders among the defendants5 Aug: President Ahmadinejad sworn in for second term
Police and security troops were present. In his speech at Tehran University, Mr Ahmadinejad again criticised the creation of Israel.
According to Reuters news agency there were clashes between Iranian police and protesters as the march progressed, with some arrests. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Mr Ahmadinejad's denial of the Holocaust was "abhorrent as well as ignorant".
Reformist website Parlemennews.ir reported that Mr Khatami was pushed to the ground, and his turban knocked off, before police intervened. "It is very important that the world community stands up against this tide of abuse," Mr Miliband said.
Mr Ahmadinejad delivered a speech at Tehran University in which he criticised the creation of Israel, and reiterated his claims that the Holocaust was a "myth". For the past 30 years, the sermon on Jerusalem Day has been given by former President Hashemi Rafsanjani.
For the past 30 years, the sermon on Jerusalem Day has been given by the former President, Hashemi Rafsanjani. The BBC's former Tehran correspondent Jim Muir says Mr Rafsanjani is normally regarded as a pillar of the Islamic power system, but he quietly sympathises with the opposition.
Our correspondent says Mr Rafsanjani is normally regarded as a pillar of the Islamic power system, but he quietly sympathises with the opposition.
This year he has been stood down in favour of a hard-line preacher.This year he has been stood down in favour of a hard-line preacher.
In the aftermath of the election, there was a violent crackdown on anti-government protesters, with a number of deaths and hundreds of people arrested. Mr Mousavi was defeated by President Ahmadinejad in June's election, which opposition leaders claim was rigged.
In the aftermath, there was a violent crackdown on anti-government protesters, with a number of deaths and hundreds of people arrested.
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