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'Tear gas' at Iran protest rally 'Tear gas' at Iran protest rally
(about 3 hours later)
Iranian police have clashed with opposition supporters in central Tehran, witnesses say.Iranian police have clashed with opposition supporters in central Tehran, witnesses say.
Police used batons and tear gas, according to the witnesses. The reports could not immediately be verified because of a foreign media ban. Police used batons and tear gas, according to the witnesses. There were also unconfirmed reports of security forces using live rounds.
The reported clashes came as Iran was to hold an annual commemoration for the killing of students in 1953. Details of the clashes could not immediately be verified because of a foreign media ban.
Earlier, hundreds of Iranian police were reported to have surrounded Tehran University to try to block protests. They came on the day that Iran holds an annual commemoration for the killing of three students in 1953.
Early on Monday, hundreds of Iranian police were reported to have surrounded Tehran University to try to block protests.
Iranian security forces, including the elite Revolutionary Guards, had warned that they would step in to prevent any attempt to use the event to stage opposition protests.Iranian security forces, including the elite Revolutionary Guards, had warned that they would step in to prevent any attempt to use the event to stage opposition protests.
They have cracked down hard on protests by opposition supporters following a disputed election in June.
After the election the chants were only about people getting their votes back, but now it is more about the system and leaders themselves Opposition chants invert old slogansAfter the election the chants were only about people getting their votes back, but now it is more about the system and leaders themselves Opposition chants invert old slogans
Opponents of the Iranian government have taken to using officially sanctioned demonstrations to turn out in big numbers and publicise their message. They have cracked down hard on protests by opposition supporters following the disputed election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June. The election led to the largest street protests since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with thousands arrested and dozens killed.
On Monday, clashes were reported in Vali Asr Square. One witness said that police had fired tear gas at protesters there who were chanting "Death to the Dictator", and "Do not be scared - we are all together". The government then banned protests, and its opponents took to using officially sanctioned demonstrations to turn out in big numbers and publicise their message.
Authorities shut down mobile phone networks in central Tehran to block opposition supporters from communicating with each other, according to an opposition website. On Monday, clashes were reported in Vali Asr Square.
One witness said that police had fired tear gas at protesters there who were chanting "Death to the Dictator", and "Do not be scared - we are all together".
The BBC's Jon Leyne, who has been banned from Tehran, said he had heard reports from numerous different sources that live rounds had been fired, with some claiming the government had used them without provocation.
Iranian authorities say they do not use live rounds against protesters.
He also said there were reports of student protests in cities across Iran, including Arak, Shiraz, Mashad and Isfahan.
One report said students were protesting not only against President Ahmadinejad, but also Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which our correspondent says would be highly unusual.
In Tehran, at least two opposition supporters were arrested, according to one reformist website.
Authorities had shut down mobile phone networks in the centre of the capital to stop opposition supporters from communicating with each other, another opposition website said.
In the days before the rally, Tehran residents said that they had been unable to use e-mail and that opposition websites were being more tightly restricted than before.In the days before the rally, Tehran residents said that they had been unable to use e-mail and that opposition websites were being more tightly restricted than before.
As restrictions have increased, activists have moved away from new media, using leaflets, CDs and word of mouth instead, BBC Tehran correspondent John Leyne reports from Istanbul, where he has been meeting opposition supporters. As restrictions have increased, activists have moved away from new media, using leaflets, CDs and word of mouth instead, our correspondent reports from Istanbul, where he has been meeting opposition supporters.
On Sunday former presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, who emerged as a leader for reformist opponents to the regime, warned that authorities were "fighting with shadows in the streets" and that the protest movement was still alive. OFFICIAL EVENTS USED FOR OPPOSITION PROTESTS President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sworn in, 5 AugustQuds (Jerusalem) Day, 18 SeptemberUS embassy seizure anniversary, 4 NovemberStudents Day, 7 December
"If you silence all the universities, what can you do with the situation of the society?" he asked in a statement posted on his website. Dozens of people have been given jail terms and as many as five people have been sentenced to death following the post-election demonstrations.
On Sunday, former presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, who emerged as a leader for reformist opponents to the regime, said the protest movement was still alive.
In a statement posted on his website, he warned that authorities were "fighting with shadows in the streets".
"If you silence all the universities, what can you do with the situation of the society?" he asked.
The annual Students Day event on Monday commemorates the death of students during an anti-American protest in 1953.The annual Students Day event on Monday commemorates the death of students during an anti-American protest in 1953.
Thousands have been arrested and dozens killed this year after the disputed election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad led to the largest street protests since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. As protests were reported, Iranian state TV was broadcasting a round-table discussion about how loyal students are to the system.
Are you in Iran? Have you seen the demonstrations? Send us your views using the form below:Are you in Iran? Have you seen the demonstrations? Send us your views using the form below:
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