Ahmadinejad Rivals Flee As Demos Turn Violent

Sky News ^ | Sep 18 | Not given

[chuck_the_tv_out]

Iranian opposition leaders have reportedly been forced to flee violent rallies in Tehran - as the country’s president insisted the Holocaust was a lie.

Tens of thousands of reformists in Tehran mounted their first protests since mid-July against the re-election of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

They were defying warnings from top officials not to demonstrate during an annual rally in support of Palestinians.

As Mr Ahmadinejad gave a speech at Tehran university declaring the Holocaust a “myth", protesters chanted “Death to the dictator” in nearby streets.

Hardline supporters of the regime mounted counter-demonstrations, leading to bloody clashes between the two sides, witnesses said.

Riot police, armed with batons, reportedly beat protesters who were pelting them with stones in the central Haft-e Tir Square.

Opposition leaders Mirhossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi left the demonstrations after being attacked by “angry people", state news agency IRNA said.

A group also attacked former president Mohammad Khatami, ripping his clothes before opposition activists rescued him, a reformist website reported.

[rawhide]

Who is attacking the opposition leaders? Surely not the anti-government demonstrators?

[jessduntno]

Overheard in AchtungMiniMeJihad’s Bbunker;

Backed down the Great Satan...check.

Got the bomb...check.

Got missiles...check.

Got the Great Satan to remove bases from Europe...check.

Russians are with us...check.

OK! We’re good now! Who’s gonna stop us?

[GonzoGOP]

I think that some of the more educated and less fanatical Iranians are seeing that this is their last chance to avoid a war with Israel that they cannot win, and may not even survive. All of the moderating influences, the US most of all, have been destroyed because of Obama. Israel is backed into a corner and traditionally it comes out swinging in such cases.

Note the less fanatical Iranians still hate us, they just aren't suicidal about it.

[Caribou]

During the Gulf War in ‘91 Iraq flew their planes to Iran or buried them.

Question is, does Iran still have those planes?

[samsmom]

Hope enough Iranians take to the street and overturn their government. They’re on their own.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Dinner Jacket believes in the Holocaust. He’s out to beat it.

[GonzoGOP]

The probably do, but they weren't top of the line aircraft 20 years ago, and haven't been maintained or had spare parts since then. If they haven't been turned into spare parts and aluminum ingots by now, they probably should be.