TEHRAN: Iran’s opposition leaders faced new threats Thursday with the state prosecutor warning they could be put on trial if they do not denounce this week’s anti-government protests — the worst unrest since the immediate aftermath of the disputed June election.
Police firing tear gas and wielding batons dispersed opposition supporters trying again Thursday to gather in two locations in central Tehran, said an opposition website called The Green Road. Police detained many of them, it said.
The confrontation between pro-government supporters and their opponents has returned to the streets in recent weeks, after a harsh crackdown immediately following the election had all but put an end to demonstrations. Despite a continuing tough response from security forces, the opposition movement has regained some momentum.
Several hundred turned out for Thursday’s demonstration in southern Tehran outside the offices of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
State prosecutor Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehei said the opposition leaders may face charges of “supporting apostates.” The police posted on their website about 100 pictures of opposition protesters involved in Sunday’s demonstrations, asking the public to help identify and report them on suspicion of “damaging public property and insulting sanctities.” Late Wednesday, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported that opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi and another top figure, Mehdi Karroubi, had fled Tehran amid the threats. But Karroubi’s son, Taghi Karroubi, disputed that report and told The Associated Press that his father and Mousavi, were both at their homes in Tehran.
