Videos from Tehran reveal that protesters have remained in the streets past nightfall, gathering around garbage bins set on fire and chanting anti-government slogans, Zamaneh reports.
The website of Green Voice of Freedom, which has posted videos of today’s gatherings, has become increasingly difficult to access, and MirHosein Mousavi’s Kaleme website also reports heavy interference with its internet service.
An eyewitness has told Zamaneh that around 5:30 local time, two young men were shot by anti-riot police and taken to hospital. Official sources have not yet confirmed this report.
Security forces reportedly attacked Sharif University, where students were chanting anti-government slogans.
While state media have largely ignored the protests, Fars new agency, which has links to Iran’s notorious Revolutionary Guards, ridiculed the protesters, calling them "hypocrites, monarchists, ruffians and seditionists" who did not even chant any slogans in support of the Arab uprisings, the stated purpose for today’s rally.
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tehran and other major cities today to participate in the opposition-led rally in support of popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.
Reports indicate that protesters began their march in silence, until they were attacked by security forces. Video clips of the protests posted to Youtube include chants of "Death to the dictator!" referring to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and "Ya Hosein! MirHosein!" in support of one of the opposition leaders who has been put under house arrest. Even chants against the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei can be heard.
Eyewitnesses have reported serious clashes in Tehran’s central Valiasr Square, and Fars news agency says an unspecified number of protesters were arrested and handed over to police and security forces.
Some eyewitness reports had noted earlier that plainclothes forces, which have come to be known for violent attacks on protesters in the post-election protests, have tried to infiltrate the crowds by donning different outfits.
