Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Basij militia disperse Tehran protesters

|
|
 
  
Iran's riot police stand guard as demonstrators gather on the streets to protest the results of the Iranian presidential election in Tehran, Iran on June 20, 2009. (UPI Photo) 
Published: July 9, 2009 at 4:31 PM

TEHRAN, July 9 (UPI) -- The Iranian Basij militia confronted hundreds of protesters Thursday in Tehran, using nightsticks and tear gas to disperse the crowd, witnesses said.

The crowd of about 2,000 to 3,000 people was trying to get to Tehran University for a demonstration to mark the 10th anniversary of a student protest against the closing of a liberal newspaper. The unrest also continued protests related to last month's disputed presidential election.

Some people called "God is great," which has become a trademark of opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad since his re-election, and "Ya Hossein, Mir Hossein," referring to Mir Hossein Mousavi, the leading opposition candidate, CNN reported.

Most roads around the university were closed, funneling everyone into a single street where the Basij, a semi-official group that supports the government, was waiting.

The head of Iranian security forces warned earlier there was no permit for a demonstration Thursday and attempts to hold one would meet strong resistance, CNN said.

The government also tried to encourage people to leave the capital by warning of weather conditions causing severe air pollution and closing government offices.

Iranian officials said they had released 2,000 people who were arrested for participating in the post-election protests, but still held 1,500 prisoners who were to be put on trial, the state-run Press TV reported. At least 20 people are believed to have been killed.

Recommended Stories
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
The Tibetan Moniam Festival in China Super Bowl XLVI ticker tape victory parade The making of the Oscars
The Chicago Auto Show The Most Desirable Women of 2012 Tu Bishvat Migron settlement
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 19
Tiger Woods plays Spyglass Hill in the AT&T Pro-Am in Pebble Beach, California
View Caption
fark
Remember the WMDs that were spirited out of Iraq and into Syria?
National Geographic misrepresented 'Doomsday Prepper' Megan Hurwitt. Producer even offered her $1,000...
Saudi Arabia would like you all to know that if Iran tests a nuke, they want one too...and they...
More than $500,000 rare jewels stolen in a jewelry store heist. It involved burrowing through a...
What is your favorite euphemism for the deed? Subby likes 'bumping uglies'
Worker Pepper Sprayed In Buffalo Wild Wings Robbery. Victim quoted as saying "OW OW OW"