Witnesses Report Fierce Clashes In Tehran

Protestors Gathering In Defiance Of Warnings From Supreme Leader Met With Tear Gas, Water Cannons; Blast At Shrine Kills 1

(CBS/AP)  Last Updated 9:51 a.m. ET.

Witnesses said police fired tear gas and water cannons at thousands of protesters who rallied in Tehran Saturday in open defiance of Iran's clerical government, sharply escalating the most serious internal conflict since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer, one of the last remaining Western journalists in Tehran, reports that people gathering in Tehran's center have been met by a heavy police presence.

Supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi are rallying in Tehran in open defiance of the country's supreme leader who threatened harsh action if protestors take to the streets again demanding a new presidential election.

Eyewitnesses described fierce clashes near Revolution Square in central Tehran after some 3,000 protesters chanted "Death to the dictator!" and "Death to dictatorship!" Police responded with tear gas and water cannons, the witnesses said.

English-language state TV also reported a blast at the Tehran shrine of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had killed one person and wounded several others, but the report could not be independently confirmed due to government restrictions on independent reporting.

IranWatch: Track the latest on the Iran election upheaval

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned opposition leaders on Friday to end street protests or be held responsible for any "bloodshed and chaos" to come.

Eyewitnesses contacted by The Associated Press said thousands of police and plainclothes militia members filled the streets Saturday to prevent rallies. Fire trucks took up positions in Revolution Square and riot police surrounded Tehran University, the site of recent clashes between protesters and security forces, one witness said.

Palmer termed the crowds of protestors as "large" but impossible to put a figure on it. Traffic jams made movement difficult, and Palmer - who passed groups of people moving towards the site of a planned protest today - said it would be easy to be trapped.

Mousavi had received another stern warning Saturday not to encourage his supporters to take to the streets a day after Khamenei sought to end the deepening election crisis by effectively declaring President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner and threatening those who continue to protest.

Khamenei ordered opposition leaders on Friday to end street protests or be held responsible for any "bloodshed and chaos" to come.

Web sites run by supporters of Mousavi called for street protests at 4 p.m. local time (7:30 a.m. ET) but the candidate himself issued no public statement.

Fire trucks took up positions in Revolution Square, the site of the planned gathering, and riot police surrounded Tehran University, the site of recent clashes between protesters and security forces, one witness said.

Iran's Interior Ministry also reiterated the warning to Mousavi on Saturday, saying he would "be held responsible for the consequences of any illegal gatherings." The ministry also accused the 67-year-old former prime minister of supporting protests that "have lead to the disruption of security and public order," State Security Council secretary, Abbas Mohtaj, said in a statement on the ministry's Web site.

A top Iran police official, Ahmad Reza Radan, warned Mousavi Saturday that if people take to the streets, "their leaders will be arrested."

The warnings place Mousavi at a pivotal moment. He can either back down or risk a crushing response from police and the forces at Khamenei's disposal - the powerful Revolutionary Guard and their volunteer citizen militia, the basij. One of Mousavi's Web site's said he planned to issue a statement "soon." It did not elaborate.


"If anything, there is even less traffic than usual. Everybody is wondering what the opposition is going to do after the Supreme Leader's warning yesterday that the protests must stop."

The police have warned that any protest will be illegal and will be dealt with determination, Palmer said.

A top Iran police official, Ahmad Reza Radan, warned Mousavi Saturday that if people take to the streets, "their leaders will be arrested."

The still-defiant opposition did not come to to a meeting with Iran's senior clerical body, the Guardian Council, which was called to try and find some solution to this impasse, some way of dealing with their complaints of election fraud.

There have been conflicting messages on whether or not there is going to be a march Saturday. Zahra Rahnavard, the wife of Mousavi, said online this morning that she would be there, so by implication there will be a march.

There also are questions about Mousavi's ability to control his own followers, many who are waiting for a clear response to Khamenei's edict on Friday before Saturday's planned rally.

Mousavi, who accuses the government of widespread voter fraud in the June 12 election, and the two other candidates who ran against Ahmadinejad were slated to meet with Iran's Guardian Council on Saturday. The council, an unelected body of 12 clerics and Islamic law experts close to Khamenei, investigates voter fraud claims.

But state-run Press TV said Mousavi, and the reformist candidate Mahdi Karroubi did not attend. There was no other details.

The council has said it was prepared to conduct a limited recount of ballots at sites where candidates claim irregularities. It not clear, however, if they have initiated any investigations.

Hundreds of thousands of Mousavi supporters have flooded Tehran streets during several massive marches earlier this week that recall the scale of protests during the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In a first sign of possible resistance to Khamenei's orders came shortly after nightfall in Tehran Friday. Cries of "Death to the dictator!" and "Allahu akbar" - "God is great" - rang from rooftops in what's become a nightly ritual of opposition unity.

Since the June 12 election, Mousavi has become the figurehead for a broad collection of demonstrators - from the most liberal-leaning reformists to religious conservatives. Some could be prepared to take their protests to the limit, but many others have no interest in an all-out mutiny against the country's Islamic system.

Khamenei was blunt Friday about what a wider fight would bring - warning those who "want to ignore the law or break the law" will face the consequences.

Police clashed with protesters in running battles around Tehran immediately after the election and the basij militia had a reported role in attacks at the university. Gunfire from a basij compound in Tehran also left at least seven people dead Monday.

But the full force of the police and Revolutionary Guard has remained in check. And this was Khamenei's implicit message since the Guard and the vast volunteer militia force it controls is under direct command of the ruling clerics.

A spokesman for Mousavi said Friday the opposition leader was not under arrest but was not allowed to speak to journalists or stand at a microphone at rallies. Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf told the AP from Paris it's even becoming difficult to reach people close to Mousavi. He said he has not heard from Mousavi's camp since Khamenei's address.

Iranian authorities have placed strict limits on the ability of foreign media to cover recent events, banning reporting from the street and allowing only phone interviews and information from officials sources such as state TV.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other European Union leaders expressed dismay over the threat of a crackdown.

Both houses of the U.S. Congress approved a resolution condemning "the ongoing violence" by the Iranian government and its suppression of the Internet and cell phones.

In an interview taped Friday with CBS, Obama said he is very concerned by the "tenor and tone" of Khamenei's comments. He also said that how Iran's leaders "approach and deal with people who are, through peaceful means, trying to be heard" will signal "what Iran is and is not."

The crowds in Tehran and elsewhere have been able to organize despite a government clampdown on the Internet and cell phones. The government has blocked certain Web sites, such as BBC Farsi, Facebook, Twitter and several pro-Mousavi sites that are conduits for Iranians to tell the world about protests and violence.

Text messaging has not been working in Iran since last week, and cell phone service in Tehran is frequently down.

[bajajohn1]

For those of you comparing America with Iran: Know this--we have had great accomplishments furthering democracy in the world; now know this: our government overthrew the democratically-elected chiefs of the Native American tribes by force of arms.

[bajajohn1]

No one wants more bloodshed, but who knows, maybe the masses will storm the palace and those police who also want more freedom will join them.

[gravyboat3000]

by thusspokezara June 20, 2009 10:13 AM PDT
The News is reporting that President Obama has been "bearing witness" during the day to the carnage in Iran. He will take a break later this afternoon for a round of golf.
____

What would you have him do, send in troops?

And if he DID do something, you would say he's, "meddling".

It's funny, the right waits to see what Obama's doing, or not doing, then they do the exact opposite, and say that the President isn't doing enough, or he's doing too much.

lmao Very entertaining.

[gravyboat3000]

by erasmus111 June 20, 2009 9:26 AM PDT
by gravyboat3000 June 20, 2009 9:11 AM PDT

If we need you Canadians, we'll call ya...


You just never know....: )

I just KNEW you'd see that sooner than later! lol

Of course, I meant the militant Canadians, we ALWAYS need the civil, initelligent ones.

;-)

[erasmus111]

by NY-Joe-10 June 20, 2009 10:00 AM PDT
Is anybody here ?


Who are you wanting?

Not me I guess.:) Hahahaha!

[thusspokezara]

The News is reporting that President Obama has been "bearing witness" during the day to the carnage in Iran. He will take a break later this afternoon for a round of golf.

[NY-Joe-10]

Is anybody here ?

[ramos1129]

Home World TEHRAN, Iran, June 20, 2009
Witnesses Report Fierce Clashes In Tehran
Protestors Gathering In Defiance Of Warnings From Supreme Leader Met With Tear Gas, Water Cannons; Blast At Shrine Kills 1
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Photo

A photo provided via a Web blog purportedly shows police forces amassing in the streets of Tehran, Saturday, June 20, 2009, in advance of a planned protest by opposition supporters. (Tazahorate Ma)

Photo

In this still frame from a video posted on YouTube, a man kicks away a gas canister fired into a crowd, as clashes erupted between demonstrators and riot police in Tehran Saturday, June 20, 2009. (YouTube)
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Photo Essay

Iran Election Sparks Riots

Reform candidate supporters charge fraud in the landslide victory of President Ahmadinejad.

Who's Who

Iran's Election: Key Players

A look at the most important figures in Iran's contested presidential election.
Stories
Iran Leader: End Protest Or Risk Bloodshed
(CBS/AP) Last Updated 9:51 a.m. ET.

Witnesses said police fired tear gas and water cannons at thousands of protesters who rallied in Tehran Saturday in open defiance of Iran's clerical government, sharply escalating the most serious internal conflict since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer, one of the last remaining Western journalists in Tehran, reports that people gathering in Tehran's center have been met by a heavy police presence.

Supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi are rallying in Tehran in open defiance of the country's supreme leader who threatened harsh action if protestors take to the streets again demanding a new presidential election.

Eyewitnesses described fierce clashes near Revolution Square in central Tehran after some 3,000 protesters chanted "Death to the dictator!" and "Death to dictatorship!" Police responded with tear gas and water cannons, the witnesses said.

English-language state TV also reported a blast at the Tehran shrine of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had killed one person and wounded several others, but the report could not be independently confirmed due to government restrictions on independent reporting.

IranWatch: Track the latest on the Iran election upheaval

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned opposition leaders on Friday to end street protests or be held responsible for any "bloodshed and chaos" to come.

Eyewitnesses contacted by The Associated Press said thousands of police and plainclothes militia members filled the streets Saturday to prevent rallies. Fire trucks took up positions in Revolution Square and riot police surrounded Tehran University, the site of recent clashes between protesters and security forces, one witness said.

Palmer termed the crowds of protestors as "large" but impossible to put a figure on it. Traffic jams made movement difficult, and Palmer - who passed groups of people moving towards the site of a planned protest today - said it would be easy to be trapped.

Mousavi had received another stern warning Saturday not to encourage his supporters to take to the streets a day after Khamenei sought to end the deepening election crisis by effectively declaring President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner and threatening those who continue to protest.

Khamenei ordered opposition leaders on Friday to end street protests or be held responsible for any "bloodshed and chaos" to come.
---------------------------------------------------------

I ask why a key tactic has not been used by the protesters. All of the security forces personnel have families or someone they care about. Why not go to these relatives and persuade them to have their person in the security forces just call in "sick" or "unavailable". If this is done with enough folks, there would soon be no security forces to back up Komeni or the present government.

[kbbpll]

Remember Kent State

[erasmus111]

by gravyboat3000 June 20, 2009 9:11 AM PDT

If we need you Canadians, we'll call ya...


You just never know....: )

[gravyboat3000]

by excoachken June 20, 2009 8:54 AM PDT
What can we do to help them?
_____

Whatever we can to help keep the lines of communication open.

If the Iranian Govt. had it's way, there would be a complete blackout of of information.

[Kintari]

gravyboat3000 is right the difference in this uprising is cell phone cameras and twitter, the mullahs can't control them. This is how the protesters can get a billion people on their side. The leader of the free world is going to have to chime in here soon.

[gravyboat3000]

by shazmispanks2 June 20, 2009 8:49 AM PDT
Never mind khamenei be removed ...Its time to destroy the zionist lead great satan America whose evil entity has serious mental problems in meddling in other countries affairs,with the self righteous big mouth in lecturing the world,And always ignoring its own criminal and corrupt conduct at home and around the world.. for instance this deliberate financial meltdown by the federal reserve and its evil extensions of Goldman sach,morgan stanley and JP morgan which has lead to 1 billion people go hungry ....Eh? I repeat a deliberate act What is more evil then this in today's headlines in America.
correction:
_____

Shut up, Shaz. You're still pizzed about your own personal $ losses. Go drive the one luxery care you have left around, and let the big kids talk, MMmK?

"Damn you, Piggly Wigglies!"

If we need you Canadians, we'll call ya...

[IrishWench01]

Ouch!!

[Illuminated1]

I view the Iranian election as a power grab by those obsolete figures in our time that belong in the past.
The U.S. did long ago interfere with the internal affairs of others, but that was the cold war, remember so did our enemies, the U.S.S.R. and China. I'll discuss that if you post a reply...

I agree with those who say our government has produced dictators...LBJ almost started WW3 by conspiracy with the Israelis on the USS Liberty attack....kept secret up until only recently with the advent of internet communications.

Nixon, now there's a real dictator, his tapes will forever marr the face of liberty and justice...As I have heard him speak on them, things only a traitor would say about his own people.

Ronald Reagon, at least he was honest, he forgot everything. His policies actually started the cycle of decline in America, while taking credit for ending the cold war...the USSR was already falling on its own. "Did I do that?" Erkle

While I consider Bush Sr. a dictator, he has my respect because his service to america both on the battlefield, and in congress is distinguished, but he is also an elitist to the max. so I have to condemn his presidency.

That leaves George "Bring em on" Bush....I am one of those so called "loonie conspiracy leftys" who believe his administration did more harm than any in all history put together. 9/11 was not only a terrorist attack, but also an opportunity for a massive bank job only the biggest of criminals could take advantage of...There is no way to justify the several buildings being destroyed by the airliners. Evidence just does not fit the damage. The Pentagon also had damaged inconsistant with a jetliner...Furthermore, the airliner completely disintigrated, but the people didnt? That is strange indeed.



My observations of discussion...
I've read the first 35 comments so far here, and I must say you guys all seem to be correct in you own ways....
That's the problem with the English language, it can be adjusted to meet your own needs but it mixes with previous statements and becomes a language of the forked tongue.

[Sloughfoot]

You've got a fungus on your rye bread my friend.

[excoachken]

What can we do to help them?

[whitemale08]

You can't be on one of the channels of the 'establishment', like Fox Noise and claim 'credibility'.

It's impossible.

You must be an 'independent' on a small organic radio/tv talk show like Peter Schiffe has his own radio show, or Alex Jones, or Lyndon Larouche has his own media website.

That's where the real news and intelligence comes from, not this BIG-BOX-RETAIL-NEWS outfits like CBS, ABC, FOX etc.

[Sloughfoot]

Get a life folks, Iran is run by an imbedded Theoarcy which the people approve of. Current events are a minnor dispute between two power hungry wanta bees. A few people will die, a few hundred or a few thousand will disapear. The antagonist will kiss and make up and Iran will remain a Nation blaiming all others for their failures and their hatred. End of story.

[whitemale08]

Lawers-guns-and-money ---

The tea party turned into the Glenn Beck, all about him and his ego.

Glenn Beck said: "The protest is about Obama's spending...".

The tea party was not about 'spending' (Republican talking point), is was about Obama continuing the BUSH BAILOUTS!!!!

That's what it was originally about, the Neil Cavuto and Fox Noise took over and made it about how much we need MASSIVE AUSTERITY instead of PUT GOLDMAN SUCKS AND JP MORGAN INTO RECEIVERSHIP!!!

[-Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-]

by debinok1 June 20, 2009 7:53 AM PDT
News flash I am an American born and raised. So my government is your government. We are under just as much of a dictatorship as Iran is, it is called the Democrat and Republican parties. Very similar to the presidency in Iran in the fact that no matter who is in office actual policy changes very little. We are under their rule as sure as Iran is under Khamenei. The only major difference is as long as we play nice they don't rub our faces in it. And if for one second you think that if we were having mass riots in our streets, that our government would not issue orders to shoot to kill you are sadly mistaken. I love America, this is my home, I hate what the government has done to our Constitution and our country. These people are the same, they love their country, they are tired of what their government is doing to it. Too bad Americans don't have the same guts.
-------------------------------------------------------

'member Kent State?

Oh, and we still have the guts. We'd just rather riot over the Lakers winning the NBA championship.

[whitemale08]

IRAN - CONTRA

Remember when Ronnie broke the law and traded weapons-for-hostages and then sold them to the Contras in Nicaragua.

The self-righteousness of neo-cons is absolutely ridiculous!

[gravyboat3000]

by speakinup22 June 20, 2009 7:42 AM PDT
It IS the world's business when a dictatorship claims to be a democracy.

Wake up and smell the coffee, koolaid drinker.



MMMmmm, coffee...

[speakinup22]

You are alright gravyboat. Anyone that can laugh at himself is ok in my book.