Iranian security forces blocked the entrance to the house of opposition leader Mir Hussein Mousavi and cut off the telephone lines in his home to prevent him from attending the opposition protest in support of the Egypt and Tunisia protests scheduled for Monday, an opposition website reported.
According to the report, several police vehicles are blocking the entrance to Mousavi’s house in Tehran. Another opposition leader Mehdi Karoubi has been in effective house arrest since Thursday.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4028265,00.html
Can’t wait for Obama’s resolute moment (Take 2).
It’s fascinating to me that in 2009 this administration offered NO support to the demonstrators in Iran- in fact- just the opposite. Yet last week Joe Biden called on Iran to join the party with Egypt...encouraged the people to rise up. Either we’re helping behind the scenes or Biden is about to have blood on his hands.
2:50 p.m. Confirmed: The Interior Ministry has issued a permit for the Tehran march.
Unconfirmed: Reports that Turkish President Abdullah Gul will join the protesters in Tehran.
Unconfirmed: Reports that Gul asked the government of Iran to give the protesters the permit to demonstrate and the government succumbed to his demands.
That will certainly change the dynamics of the situation if it's true.
If they can turn Iran my thoughts on Egypt will improve considerably.
popcorn.JPG
watching closely... thanks for the REALtime updates
Pinging Egypt list for Iran protest.
@iranian: Unconfirmed: reports saying that a huge crowd is moving from Ferdowsi Square toward Valiasr Intersection #iran #25bahman
5 minutes ago via Twitterrific
@MikVerbrugge: #Iran #25Bahman witness:2:15pm near Sanati U. Security Forces tried entering Azadi Sq but ppl blocked roads with their cars
5 minutes ago via TweetDeck
Bump
Come on, Baraqqi. Let’s hear the rhetoric about ‘young people clamoring for change’.
I won’t hold my breath.
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/World+News/Middle+East/Iran ... May this news link help keep All close to current.
5:05 p.m. More reports coming in of Isfahan protests, and now confirmation of protests in Kermanshah, as well. Estimates in those two cities and Shiraz are of thousands of participants.
And we’ve confirmed from multiple sources that tear gas was indeed used in Tehran’s Valiasr Square to disperse protesters. Additional clashes are being reported there.
Hafte Tir Square has also been taken over by security forces like Azadi Square and protesters are finding it difficult to navigate through.
Thousands are silently marching on Enghelab Avenue toward Azadi Square. Clashes are breaking out along the route, with protesters being beaten by security forces, but the silent march continues.
There’s no tv coverage here. Coverage of the Grammys, Fashion week and Valentine’s Day are much more important.
If there was no coverage of the demonstrations in Egypt, Mubarak would be running things as usual this morning.
Prayers and best wishes to the people of Iran for their freedom. Down with the dictator!
All Saints of Persia, pray for your people! Most Holy Theotokos, pray for Iran!!!!
Iran Standard Time (IRST), GMT+3:30
5:25 p.m. Iranian journalist and blogger Reza Valizadeh, now based in Paris, reports, “Gatherings of protesters in Revolution Sq; 7th Tir Sq; Ferdousi Sq; Sadeghieh Sq. and Vali Asr crosspoint and attack by special forces has been confirmed.” There are also reports of clashes at Sharif Industrial University and of the arrest of several students there.
Kaleme and Saham News — the websites, respectively, of Mousavi and Karroubi’s National Trust Party — are both down.
Rahe Sabz is reporting that riot police are mostly being used to control the protests. Not equipped with firearms, they are using their batons and shields to corner and disperse demonstrators.
The largest gatherings of protesters are near College Square, Valiasr Square, and around Azadi and Enghelab Squares. There are also reports of more protesters moving from College Bridge toward Enghelab Square. Security forces are present in most other parts of central Tehran and are trying to stop protesters from gathering there. Though Azadi Square, the intended endpoint of the march, is filled with security forces, many protesters have made it there and are waiting for others who are still on Enghelab Avenue and trying to reach the square.
No, it can’t.
Regardless of the similarities, no uprising in any nation is ever a repeat of another.
That said, we can certainly hope there is a similar outcome. I’d LOVE to see Iran’s current regime fall, and fall hard.
