Iranian protesters persist in streets of major cities

02/14/11 Source: Radio Zamaneh

Iranian protesters continue going to the streets of Tehran trying to gather and gain momentum despite widespread deployment of security forces all across the city and reports of violent confrontations between the people and the riot police. Tens of thousands of Iranians responded to a rally call issued by the opposition leaders, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi who have been prevented by seucirty forces from leaving their homes to join the demonstrations.

 

Iranian security froces have been trying to disperse the crowds using tear gas and beatings.

As foreign media have been banned from covering the events and the state media have completely ignored them, news of protests has been only trickling through social media sites, eyewitnesses and some opposition websites.

Bamdad Khabar reports that the crowd in Azadi Square is growing by the minute, and many people are equipped with warm clothing and snacks to let them endure as long as possible.

In other reports dozens of protesters have been reportedly arrested in the city of Esfahan.

Iran Green Voice website reports that more protesters joined the street gatherings at nightfall, and eyewitnesses have told Zamaneh that street crowds are growing and garbage bins have been set on fire.

Green Voice also reports that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad chose to receive Turkish president Abdullah Gül in a foreign ministry building, rather than in the presidential palace, to avoid possible confrontation with protesters.

Poster inviting Iranians to rally on February 14.
February 14 facebook page

Following reports that opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi has been put under house arrest, with a roadblock barring entrance to his street, Jaras reports that the home of Mohammad Khatami, the former Iranian president and another senior reformist figure, is also surrounded by security forces.

About an hour ago, an eyewitness told Zamaneh that one woman was shot in the arms and brought to hospital. Jaras and Bamdad websites have also confirmed this report.

Some opposition websites have reportedly urged the people to go to their roofs at 10 pm sharp and shout "Allah-o-Akbar!" as they did last night. The nightly shouts of "Allah-o-Akabar!" are a form of protest practiced during the 1979 Revolution that toppled the regime of Mohammadreza Pahlavi, the monarch of Iran.

At the time of this writing, BBC reported that university students in Tehran University dorm have already started the "Allah-o-Akbar!" chants.

BBC also reports that protesters in several areas of the city have been chanting slogans against Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

Iranians in the Netherlands and Britain have also gathered outside Iranian embassies in The Hague and London today in support of protesters in Iran.