[AP/Washington Post] Nasser Karimi - Iranian police fired tear gas and beat protesters to disperse thousands chanting "Neda lives!" Thursday at a memorial for victims of post-election violence held at the gravesite of the woman whose death made her an icon of the pro-reform movement, witnesses said. Demonstrations that drew thousands more later spread to other parts of Tehran. When opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi tried to approach the grave, hundreds of police surrounded him and forced him to leave. Afterward, his supporters remained at the grave, chanting, "Death to the dictator." The police charge came when an ally of Mousavi, Mahdi Karroubi - who was also a candidate in the election - tried to give a speech. Thursday's protests showed the opposition movement still has momentum, fueled by growing anger over abuses of detainees and continuing arrests.
2009-07-31 06:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive