Iran clamps down on opposition leaders

[oberliner]

Source: AFP

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Security forces cut phone lines and blockaded the home of an Iranian opposition leader Monday in attempts to stop him attending a planned rally in support of Egypt's uprising, a reformist website reported.

Iranian authorities have poured police and militiamen onto the streets of Tehran to challenge any pro-Egypt marches, which officials worry could turn into demonstrations against Iran's ruling system.

The security clampdown is reminiscent of the backlash that crushed a wave of protests after the disputed re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June 2009. But opposition supporters revived a tactic from the unrest, shouting "Allahu Akbar," or God is Great, from rooftops and balconies into the early hours Monday in a sign of defiance toward Iran's leadership.

The reformist website kaleme.com said police stationed several cars in front of the home of Mir Hossein Mousavi ahead of the demonstration called for Monday in central Tehran.


Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j5gaixFLSk0-n-tElZJj-mRgRU4w?docId=47857aeac5824b5ba005560343334742

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What do folks think? Will Iran be next?

[dipsydoodle]

1. Will Iran be next ?

Unlikely.

[oberliner]

4. Hundreds march in Iran opposition rally

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41574647/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

[dipsydoodle]

5. Yes hundreds - whoopee.

Fact is that whereas in Tunisia and Egypt it was their populations in general who were protesting that was not case in Iran during their last round of protests and is as unlikely to be so this time too.

The majority of their population are the poor , Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's main base , not the students and some of the middle class.

[oberliner]

6. Up to thousands now

Thousands demonstrate in Iran despite ban

TEHRAN — Thousands of defiant Iranian opposition supporters, moving in scattered groups in Tehran on Monday, staged what they said was a rally supporting Arab revolts as riot police armed with batons moved in to disperse them, witnesses and opposition websites said.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gTxXUJ6Z_v1tMebJwz-qgX_V6X2Q?docId=CNG.0f2dd822954982bb57cab5b034071896.c41

[dipsydoodle]

7. Their total population is about the same size as Egypt

so when the protesters reach a million or so then maybe you'll be able to draw the comparison.

[oberliner]

11. Now up to hundreds of thousands

Iranian security forces clashed with protesters as hundreds of thousands marched in Tehran on Monday in the biggest rally by the opposition Green Movement for more than a year.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dc07d8de-386d-11e0-959c-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1Dxo5bRXt

[dipsydoodle]

12. al Jazeera link timed 14 Feb 2011 19:36 GMT

That's an hour ago. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/201121412571299951.html

[leveymg]

2. Egypt is not Iran, Iran is not Egypt

We've seen the results of attempt at regime change and sanctions in Tehran. More isolation of the people from the outside world, more repression of the democracy movement, more power to the hardliners.

Not a sound policy.

[oberliner]

3. Egypt is not Tunisia either

Yet the latter population was perhaps able to inspire the former.

[leveymg]

9. Interesting article from Lebanon about why US efforts at regime change have so often failed

or backfired:

Washington: Between Tunisia’s Revolution and Egypt’s Uprising
Sat, 29 January 2011
Mostafa Zein
http://www.daralhayat.com/portalarticlendah/228968

And, another on why Egypt is Not Iran:

Why Egypt Will Not Turn Into Another Iran
By Stephen Zunes, February 10, 2011
http://www.fpif.org/articles/why_egypt_will_not_turn_into_another_iran

[rollin74]

8. Police disperse Iranian protesters with tear gas

TEHRAN, Iran – Clashes between Iranian police and tens of thousands of protesters wracked central Tehran on Monday with security forces beating and firing tear gas at opposition supporters looking to evoke Egypt's recent popular uprising.

The opposition called for a demonstration Monday in solidarity with Egypt's popular revolt that a few days earlier forced the president there to resign after nearly 30 years in office. The rally is the first major show of strength for Iran's cowed opposition in more than a year.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110214/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_opposition
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There are protests in cities all over Iran today

Iran live blog:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2011/02/iran-live-blog-25-bahman-14-february.html

[rollin74]

10. "total chaos" in Tehran, "severe clashes" : BBC

Iranian police have fired tear gas at opposition demonstrators gathering in central Tehran in support of the protests in Egypt.

A BBC producer in the Iranian capital, who was affected by the gas, described central Tehran as "total chaos".

He said "severe clashes" were taking place between protesters and police and there had been many arrests.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12447225

[LeftishBrit]

13. As I said in another thread...

the Iranian regime must be watching events in other Middle Eastern countries, and getting pretty nervous.

Hoping that democracy will prevail one day, and before too long!

[Tx4obama]

14. IRAN: here's a link with live blog updates, photos, and tons of video

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x416104