An Iranian man flashing a peace sign for a cameraman during protests on Dec. 27, 2009. (Photo: AP)
Opposition Web sites claim that at least four people have been killed today in Tehran during pro-reform protests.
Thousands of Iranians are using Ashura ceremonies as an opportunity to stage pro-reform protests in the capital. (As always, it's impossible for anyone to accurately count the number of protesters.)
The opposition Web site Jaras claims that police opened fire on one group of protesters, killing four of them. Other opposition sites report that police are now refusing orders to shoot. One of the victims, an elderly man, was reportedly shot in the head in downtown Tehran; the others were killed near Kalej bridge.
Demonstrators have fought back against security forces, according to the AP, which reports protesters throwing stones at police and Basij and setting their vehicles on fire.
Azizollah Rajabzadeh, the Tehran police chief, denied that any protesters have been killed, according to Iranian state media.
An Iranian source tells us that one of the victims is reportedly Mir Hossein Mousavi's nephew, Ali Mousavi. (The AP is also reporting this detail.) Mousavi is reportedly at a Tehran hospital with his family.
Clashes were also reported in Isfahan, the site of a violent clash last week, and Najafabad, the hometown of the late Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri.
Today is the second consecutive day of violent protests in Tehran. Thousands of protesters defied an official ban and launched several pro-reform protests in the capital yesterday. Police and Basij militiamen reportedly beat protesters and fired tear gas at them, though there were no reports of fatalities yesterday.
Opposition Web sites are calling yesterday's protests a "test" for today.
Protesters in the capital have chanted anti-government slogans, like "death to the dictator," and torn down several street signs. This video, apparently from today, shows demonstrators taking down an "Ayatollah Ali Khamenei" street sign.
Ashura is a Shi'ite holiday marking the death of Husayn at the Battle of Karbala. Millions of Shi'ites take to the streets to commemorate the holiday; pro-reform protesters are taking advantage of the demonstrations to stage their own protests.
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Categories: Iran, Iranian Elections (2009), Politics, Regional News
Tags: Ashura, Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, Azizollah Rajabzadeh, Basij, Green Movement, Mir Hossein Mousavi, protests
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