Thousands of pro-government demonstrators have gathered in Tehran in a show of support for the authorities' crackdown on independent media and opposition protesters. The government mustered its supporters in Vali Asr Square on Tuesday, a day after seven people were killed in clashes on the fringes of a huge opposition rally a day earlier.
The government mustered its supporters in Vali Asr Square on Tuesday, a day after seven people were killed in clashes on the fringes of a huge opposition rally a day earlier.
Supporters of Mousavi had planned to gather for a second day in the square, but he urged them to stay away "to protect lives". In a message posted on his website, Mousavi asked his supporters to "exercise self-restraint". Despite the warning, opposition supporters were in evidence on the streets in Tehran, some carrying Mousavi's picture, raising the possibility of further clashes.
In a message posted on his website, Mousavi asked his supporters to "exercise self-restraint".
Despite the warning, opposition supporters were in evidence on the streets in Tehran, some carrying Mousavi's picture, raising the possibility of further clashes.
The gates of the university were now shut. Behind them was a crowd of hundreds of young men and women, many wearing scarves over their mouths. I crossed the road. And the banners behind those forbidding gates told a frightening story. "Today is a day of mourning," one of them read. "Dignified students are mourners today." "Police, shame on you, shame on you." "Tell my mother - she doesn't have a son any more."
I walked up to the gate. Young female students were crying. So were some of the young men. "We don't want a government by coup," another poster read. "Tehran University dormitory has been coloured with students' blood," another said.
TEHRAN - University of Tehran Chancellor Farhad Rahbar has issued a statement condemning the attack on the university's students on Monday morning. "The invasion of the University of Tehran's dormitory, which is the symbol of higher education of the country... and the beating of the beloved students... have caused a wave of sorrow and chagrin in me," he said in the statement issued on Monday.
"The invasion of the University of Tehran's dormitory, which is the symbol of higher education of the country... and the beating of the beloved students... have caused a wave of sorrow and chagrin in me," he said in the statement issued on Monday.
