Huge crowds mark anniversary of Iran revolution
Hundreds of thousands of pro-government demonstrators gathered in the central square of Tehran today to mark the 31st anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution.
State television showed thousands upon thousands carrying often identical banners marching to the central Azadi Square, to attend a speech by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
In Azadi Square itself, massive crowds waved Iranian flags and carried pictures of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic state, and his successor as supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The opposition has vowed to stage counter-demonstrations, but eyewitnesses say police have deployed hundreds of officers in central Tehran to confront them.
Iranian authorities tried to block text messaging and web links in attempts to cripple protest organisers. Internet service was sharply slowed, mobile phone service widely cut and there were repeated disruptions in instant messaging services.
Opposition websites reported that protesters had gathered in several places in Tehran to display green banners, but there were no immediate reports of clashes or attempts by security forces to disperse the crowds.
pposition members went on rooftops late on Wednesday and shouted Allah-u-Akbar (“God is greatest”) in protest – echoing similar cries after the disputed June election as well as the anti-Shah protests of more than three decades ago.
Since the election that brought President Ahmadinejad to power, opposition protesters have repeatedly taken to the streets.
Iranian authorities are desperate to show the upper hand on the most important day of the nation’s political calendar, but the high-profile events offer a chance for opposition groups to make another powerful statement of their resolve.
Anti-government websites and blogs have called for a major turnout and urged marches to display green emblems or clothes – the colour adopted by the anti-government movement since June’s disputed presidential election.
The opposition leaders have promised to join street rallies, including the Green movement founder and former presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi.
Iranian officials, however, have warned that any protests will be immediately crushed by security forces. At least eight people were killed in clashes during the last major opposition marches in December.
In recent months, the opposition has built its street protest strategy around days of important political or religious significance in attempts to embarrass authorities. The tone of the rallies, however, has shifted from outrage over alleged fraud in President Ahmadinejad’s re-election to wider calls against the entire Islamic system, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The last large-scale marches – held to coincide with a Shiite holy day in late December – brought the most violent battles with security since shortly after the June 12 election.
