Khamenei lauds pro-regime demonstrations

TEHRAN, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- The presence of millions of people in Iran supporting the principles of the Islamic Revolution is a wake-up call for the opposition, the supreme leader said.

Iran declared a national holiday Thursday to celebrate the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution that overthrew the monarchy in 1979. State-run media showed huge rallies in the streets of Tehran demonstrating in support of the government.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said such widespread support for the principles of the Islamic republic is a sign for the opposition movement challenging the clerical regime in Tehran, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reports.

"Isn't presence of tens of millions of wise and jubilant people in celebrations marking the 31st anniversary of the (Islamic) Revolution enough to make the hostile and deceived individuals inside the country aware?" the leader asked.

Supporters of the opposition Green Movement in Iran were expected to wage demonstrations against the regime Thursday. Pro-reform movements had taken advantage of national holidays to demonstrate against the government, with December protests on the holy day of Ashura turning violent.

Scattered reports of opposition demonstrations appeared on social-networking sites throughout Thursday, though government forces appeared to suppress what were expected to be huge rallies.