Iran troops reportedly move into Tehran ahead of opposition rally
State prosecutor says opposition leaders could face trial if they don't denounce anti-government rallies.
By Reuters Tags: Iran Israel newsAn Iranian opposition website said on Thursday the government was moving troops and armored military vehicles to the capital on the day supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi planned to hold a rally.
"Hundreds of military forces and tens of armoured vehicles ... are moving towards Tehran. Some of the vehicles are used for suppressing street riots," the Jaras website said.
The report could not be confirmed independently by Reuters.
Jaras also said security forces had a heavy presence in various Tehran squares ahead of the planned opposition rally.
Also on Thursday, Iran's state prosecutor has warned top opposition leaders they could face trial if they fail to denounce this week's anti-government protests.
The prosecutor, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehei, says the opposition figures could also face charges of supporting apostates in defiance of God over street clashes on Sunday, a sacred Shiite Muslim observance day.
Ejehei's comments, published in state-owned Iran newspaper on Thursday, raise concerns for the opposition leaders. There have also been calls for their execution as Iran's internal strife grows more bitter.
A group of government supporters, wearing white funeral shrouds to symbolize a willingness to die in defense of the clerical rulers, staged a rally in southern Tehran on Thursday and gathered outside the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, state radio reported.
Iran's police chief warned supporters of Mousavi on Wednesday of harsh treatment if they joined illegal anti-government rallies.
In Iran's bloodiest unrest since the aftermath of the disputed June 12 presidential election, eight people were killed on Sunday and at least 20 pro-reform figures, including three senior advisers to Mousavi, were arrested.
The government reacted by organising demonstrations, starting on Monday, in which hundreds of thousands of people took part. Demonstrators called for the execution of the opposition leaders, Mousavi and moderate defeated presidential candidate Mehdi Karoubi.
Concern over political unrest in Iran helped push oil prices briefly above e79 a barrel to fresh five-week highs on Tuesday and they held near that level on Wednesday.
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Third, most to none of the Iranian poor are missing from these protesters. The base support is within the elite communities from rich parts of the metropolitan areas. Fourth, Most of the miseries in the current time are teh inheritance of the most, Nr. Mosavi, followed by the two others of leading Green movement. Most of the mismanagement, and corruptions are the inheritance of the Green movement leaders. Fifth, The green mevement does not have the popular support - you like it or not. Sixth, most of the power resides with the mullahs siding wiith the Rafsanjani (one of the most corrupted mullahs, and politician, and capitalist existing today) Basically, this is a war of power and capital among the rulling elites and not the people. There are nothing good for the mass and poor. There is no other revolution comming. People are smart enough not to get involved in this power strugle among the rulling elites. There are no glory left for the majority of people.
Back to al your comments, let me explain a few facts. You people are cosumed by the media's propaganda and intelligence warefare. I was in the revolution time in IRAN back in 75-84, and I was in IRAN just the last 2 years. There are major differences between these two events that are good enough to turn wine into winegar. The wine - The 79 Revolution was supported by poor, and until they walked into it, there was no popular support. And thus, while there were good support from elites, there was no mass behind the power. Winegar - Believe it or like it or not, this time the events represent winagar. First, looking at the all the civil laws here in US,a nd the west, you can see the violent protesters in IRAN are classified as rioters and in countries such as Italy,and even US (LA in 90's) are treated with violent police tactics. Second, the so called Green movement is supported by core & corrupted mullahs from Qum, and corrupted politicians, and Bazar.
Marat we're poor, And the poor stay poor. We don't want to wait any more. We want or rights, And we don't care how; We want a revolution-- Now
if required. The big question is whether the Iranian Army would fire on the demonstrators. It is interesting that after several police officers refused orders to open fire on demonstrators Ahmedinijad has had to call in the Army. I agree with Mark this is looking more and more like a classic revolution
Do they trust the army, more than the police.? Or, do they believe that soldiers will be more inclined to finish off the job by using overwhelming force. By bringing in the military, the regime has shown the world that they are afraid, who would not be. For the people have spoken, chanted and many have died, all for FREEDOM. I wonder, whether the gracious president( The leader of the free world) is enjoying his vacation in Hawaii.? Aloha.
This article could have been written in late 1978.
Mousavi is one of the usual suspects who got Iran into this mess and is still just out for himself.He's using the protesters for his own purposes until he can grab power for himself,just like the last revolution was hijacked by the clerics and their thuggish allies from democracy seekers who did the hard work. Mousavi is part of the problem,not part of the solution.If the Iranian regime gets rid of him the protesters would be forced to concentrate on the real issues,democracy,equality,human rights,women's rights,freedom of speech,freedom of thought,freedom of conscience,etc,etc,without being led up a blind alley by a cynical power seeker. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!