Posted on 06/20/2009 7:39:20 PM PDT by NoPrisoners
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Thousands of protesters defied Iran's highest authority Saturday and marched on waiting security forces that fought back with baton charges, tear gas and water cannons as the crisis over disputed elections lurched into volatile new ground.
In a separate incident, a state-run television channel reported that a suicide bombing at the shrine of the Islamic Revolution leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini killed at least two people and wounded eight. The report could be not independently evaluated due to government restrictions on journalists.
If proven true, the reports could enrage conservatives and bring strains among backers of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi. Another state channel broadcast images of broken glass but no other damage or casualties, and showed a witness saying three people had been wounded.
The extent of injuries in the street battles also was unclear. Some witnesses said dozens were hurt and gunfire was heard.
Some bloggers and Twitter users claimed that there had been numerous fatalities in Saturday's unrest, reports that could not be immediately verified.
The clashes along one of Tehran's main avenues - as described by witnesses - had far fewer demonstrators than recent mass rallies for Mousavi. But they marked another blow to authorities who sought to intimidate protesters with harsh warnings and lines of black-clad police three deep in places.
[Snip]...On the streets, witnesses said some protesters also shouted "Death to Khamenei!" - another sign of once unthinkable challenges to the authority of the successor of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the father of the Islamic Revolution.
[Snip]...The government has blocked Web sites such as BBC Farsi, Facebook, Twitter and several pro-Mousavi sites used by Iranians to tell the world about protests and violence. Text messaging has not been working in Iran since last week...
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
"Now they'll have to hold their ground and hope that people don't keep coming back," he added. "But history has taught us that people in these situations lose their initial sense of fear and become emboldened by brutality."
Prayers for all those yearning to breathe free!
Iran is just a few Years ahead of us...judging by this report....
bttt
I was thinking something chillingly similar. For all those who say "It can't happen here", just consider that Iran is an advanced and relatively civilized country with much of its population very well-educated.
It most certainly CAN happen here.
Are we ready for this level of sacrifice for our Constitution?
That can’t happen here because we have too many guns here. Once one side or the other gets too forceful, all hell breaks loose real fast when everyone is armed.
The Freedom Fight is on.
I think you’re right, Matt! The people of Persia have awakened ... sadly, they will be delt with the same way the Bahaiis were dealt with, slaughter. There’s been a demon at work in Persia even since the days of Daniel, OT.
Rather than commit suicide now that they are awakened, they ought to go suddenly quiet, and begin to built the infrastructure for guerilla war against their demon Ayatollah oppressors. It would be in Saudi Arabia’s interest to send them aid in all forms, to unbalance the Iranian madness facing the Middle East.
Today, yes. Tomorrow, who knows? The key would be communications, and if Obama controls that you'll never know when guns are being confiscated, or where.
See how Tehran is controlling the media? A little is getting out, but not much. What we can see though is shocking enough.
I’m not the least bit afraid of obama. He is a joke...like carter. He’s more of a joke than carter.
I’m afraid of all the scumbags that are backing him up and building him up and using him for their purposes.
It would take some infrastructure people saying “Screw you!” to Obama to keep lines open. That, and people with CB radios, long-range bluetooth, autonomous wifi networks, etc. Thing is to prepare BEFORE those become necessities.
Roger that!
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