Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Iran Marks Revolution Anniversary, Cracks Down on Opposition

   VOA News 11 February 2010
   Demonstrators in Tehran

Photo: AP

   An  image made from video provided by Iranian State TV, pro-government
   demonstrators  gather in the central square of Tehran to mark the 31st
   anniversary of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, 11 Feb 2010

   Hundreds  of  thousands  of  people  rallied  in  the  Iranian capital
   Thursday  to  mark  the  31st  anniversary of the Islamic Republic, as
   security forces cracked down on opposition supporters.
   Iranian  state  television  showed massive crowds marching to Tehran's
   Azadi   (Freedom)  Square  to  hear  a  speech  by  President  Mahmoud
   Ahmadinejad.
   In  his  address,  Mr.  Ahmadinejad  praised  the  achievements of the
   Iranian people and railed against the West.
   Meantime,  opposition  Web sites say security forces fired tear gas to
   disperse opposition supporters gathered in central Tehran.
   There  are  also  reports  that  leading  reformist  politicians Mehdi
   Karroubi and former President Mohammad Khatami were attacked.
   One  Web  site - Rahesabz - reported that Mr. Khatami's sister-in-law,
   Zahra  Eshraghi,  was  arrested  along with her husband, Mr. Khatami's
   brother  Mohammad Reza Khatami.  Eshraghi is the grand-daughter of the
   founder  of  the  Islamic  Revolution,  the  late  Ayatollah  Ruhollah
   Khomeini.  The report did not give a reason for her arrest.
   Top  opposition  leaders  Mir  Hossein  Mousavi and Karroubi had urged
   their   supporters   to  turn  out  on  the  streets  for  a  peaceful
   demonstration.
   An  Iranian  security  official, Police Chief Ismail Ahmadi Moghaddam,
   told  Iranian  media  Wednesday  that authorities are prepared to deal
   with  anyone  trying  to  disrupt  state-run rallies.  He said several
   people have already been detained for organizing protests.
   Mass   antigovernment   protests   broke  out  after  Iran's  disputed
   presidential  election  in  June.   Opposition  leaders  have  accused
   President Ahmadinejad of stealing the vote.
   The  anniversary  Thursday  marks the 1979 ouster of Iran's monarchist
   government.   Every  year, hundreds of thousands of Iranians take part
   in marches to celebrate the anniversary.
   There  also  are  reports  that  Iranian  authorities have slowed down
   Internet  service  in  the  country  and  have blocked Google's e-mail
   service, Gmail.
   The California-based Internet company confirmed a sharp drop in e-mail
   traffic,  and  acknowledged  that  users  in  Iran  are having trouble
   accessing Gmail.
   In a statement, Google said it believes "people everywhere should have
   the  ability  to communicate freely online," adding, "sadly, sometimes
   it is not within our control."
   Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

.