Tulsa World: Iran opposition protesters, anti-U.S. protests compete

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Iran opposition protesters, anti-U.S. protests compete

Iranian schoolgirls attend an annual demonstration in front of the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran, on Wednesday in a ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of the seizure of the U.S. Embassy by militant students on Nov. 4, 1979. The poster at top center shows the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini. Vahid Salemi/Associated Press

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI Associated Press
Published: 11/5/2009 2:31 AM
Last Modified: 11/5/2009 5:06 AM

The contrasts were vivid: Pro-government supporters chanted "Death to America" and stomped on U.S. flags Wednesday while not far away, hundreds of opposition protesters denounced Iran's leaders and appealed to America's president to choose sides.

"Obama, Obama, you are either with them, or with us," the anti-government protesters chanted in Farsi, in an amateur video clip widely circulated on the Internet.

The startling appeal to President Barack Obama came as Iran's opposition protesters returned to the streets in large numbers for the first time in nearly two months. Authorities were ready with the same sweeping measures they used to quell fierce election-fraud protests this summer and early fall: Sending paramilitary units to key locations to fire tear gas and beat people with batons.

The latest marches drew far fewer demonstrators than in the summer or even in September, suggesting the relentless pressure by authorities could be taking a toll on Iran's opposition.

In Washington, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama administration leaders "hope greatly that violence will not spread."

The administration has pursued talks with Iran's government even as it has pushed for more concessions on Iran's controversial nuclear program. Obama said Tuesday that he wanted the U.S. and Iran to move beyond "suspicion, mistrust and confrontation."

Wednesday marked the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy takeover in which 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days. The two nations have never resumed diplomatic ties.

Thousands of people attended a pro-government rally called to mark the anniversary, chanting "Death to America" and walking over and stomping on U.S. flags outside Washington's former embassy.

Just blocks away, hundreds of opposition marchers in Haft-e-Tir Square denounced President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with cries of "Death to the Dictator" and trampled a poster of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, witnesses said.

In all, several thousand protesters joined the marches in various spots across the city. But those numbers were far smaller than at the height of the outrage after claims that Ahmadinejad stole the election by fraud this summer.

The main marches were quickly dispersed by security forces — including paramilitary forces and militiamen linked to the powerful Revolutionary Guard. By ALI AKBAR DAREINI Associated Press

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