Region | Iran
Iran hardliners rally to support government
Opposition leader Mir Hussain Mousavi, along with top opposition leader Mahdi Karroubi, had fled the capital
- Reuters
- Published: 00:00 December 31, 2009
- Image Credit: AP
- Pro-government demonstrators gather during a rally at the Enqelab (Revolution) Square in Tehran, on Wednesday.
Tehran: Hundreds of thousands of government supporters rallied across Iran on Wednesday, swearing allegiance to the clerical establishment and accusing opposition leaders of causing unrest.
Iran's police chief warned supporters of opposition leader Mir Hussain Mousavi only to expect harsh treatment if they joined illegal anti-government rallies, three days after eight protesters were killed in demonstrations.
In Tehran, crowds burned American and British flags, condemning what they said was interference in Iran's internal affairs.
Fars news agency said a group of hardliners gathered in front of the British embassy in Tehran, chanting "the British embassy should be closed down".
Iran's top authority accused the West of basing its actions towards Iran on "distorted realities".
Just hours later, state news agency Irna reported that Mousavi, along with top opposition leader Mahdi Karroubi, had fled the capital.
In custody?
An opposition website, Rahesabz, said the two men were taken into custody by members of the elite Revolutionary Guards and intelligence ministry for their own protection.
"Two of the chiefs of the sedition left Tehran for the north of Iran after learning that the population was increasingly angry and demanding their punishment," Irna said.
They were said to be in the locality of Kelar Abad, in Mazandaran province. There was no official confirmation that the pair were in custody.
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.
United Nations Human Rights chief Navi Pillay called on Tehran yesterday to curb excess use of force by its security services.
Concern over unrest in Iran helped to push oil prices briefly above $79 a barrel to fresh five-week highs on Tuesday and they held near that level on Wednesday.
Iran's police chief said "there was no more room for tolerance over participants in illegal rallies".
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