An Iranian opposition supporter holds a policeman during clashes in central Tehran December 27, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
TEHRAN, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of thousands of government supporters took to streets across the country on Wednesday to protest against the Sunday "riots" in Tehran.
In the capital of the country, the people gathered in downtown Enghelab (Revolution) square and the nearby streets and condemned the defiling of the Sunday Ashura mourning ceremonies in Tehran.
They chanted slogans in support of Islamic Republic and against the United States and Israel as well as Iran's opposition leaders.
According to the local media, similar rallies were also staged in Iran's other cities on Wednesday.
During the annual Ashura commemorations of Shiite Muslims on Sunday, anti-government protestors clashed with the security forces in Tehran. According to local media, eight people were killed and more than 300 others were arrested.
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that the Sunday anti-government protests in Tehran was a play staged by Israel and the United States.
Iran's police vowed to confront anti-government protests severely after the Sunday incident.
The Ashura ritual is performed in Iran and some other countries with large populations of Shiite Muslims.
TEHRAN, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Parliament (Majlis) Speaker Ali Larijani urged "most severe punishment" for Ashura Day anti-government protesters, the local satellite Press TV reported on Tuesday. Full story
TEHRAN, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned British ambassador to Iran over the "interfering" comments by British Foreign Secretary David Miliband concerning recent anti-government protests in Tehran, the semi-official Fars news agency reported. Full story
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday condemned Iran's crackdown on protesters, saying "history will be on the side of those who seek justice."
The United States "strongly condemns" the oppression of Iranian citizens, Obama said in his native Hawaii where he is taking vacation with his family. Full story
TEHRAN, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported on Monday that the dead bodies of five, out of eight, murdered people in Tehran's Sunday "riots" have been retained for further forensic examinations.
The dead bodies of Seyed-Ali Habibi-Mousavi and four others who were killed in Tehran's Sunday "riots" have been retained for complete forensic and police examinations, IRNA said rejecting some media reports on Monday that Habibi-Mousavi's dead body was taken away by Iran's security forces. Full story
TEHRAN, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Death toll in Sunday's clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces in Tehran rose to eight, Iran's state-run satellite channel Press TV reported Monday.
"Eight people have been killed in anti-government protests," Iran's Supreme National Security Council was quoted as saying. Full story
