Iran braces for showdown as government, opposition supporters plan coinciding street rallies

September 19th, 2009 Iran detains several after Friday protestsTEHRAN, Iran — Iran's official news agency says police detained several protesters after Friday's massive demonstrations. The spokesman of Tehran police department Colonel Mahdi Ahmadi said Saturday that "several" people were detained for throwing rocks at police and setting motorcycles on fire, according to IRNA.

September 18th, 2009 TEHRAN - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Friday called the mass murder of Jews by the Nazis a "fairy tale" and urged continued resistance against Israel's "Zionist regime". "The Holocaust is a false claim, a fairy tale, used as a pretext for crimes against humanity," the Iranian president told an anti-Israel rally in Tehran.

September 18th, 2009 Iran government supporters, opposition hold rallyTEHRAN, Iran — Tens of thousands of Iranian government supporters and dozens of opposition activists poured out Friday onto the streets of Tehran for coinciding marches marking an annual pro-Palestinian commemoration. Baton-totting police and security troops, along with the pro-government Basij militia that helped crush mass street protests this summer against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election, were deployed along main squares and boulevards but the rallies kicked off peacefully.

September 18th, 2009 Iran reformist attacked; Ahmadinejad slams IsraelTEHRAN, Iran — Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lashed out at Israel and the West saying Friday the Holocaust was a lie and a pretext for occupying Palestinian lands, while hard-liners attacked a reformist cleric who was marching with the opposition at an anti-government rally in Tehran. Thousands of opposition supporters held protests in competition with government-sponsored mass rallies to mark an annual anti-Israel commemoration, the Quds Day that reflects the Persian nation's sympathy with the Palestinians.

September 18th, 2009 Iran hard-liners attack reformist ex-presidentTEHRAN, Iran — A group of Iranian hard-liners have attacked a reformist former president while he was marching with opposition supporters at an anti-government rally in Tehran. A reformist Web site cites witnesses as saying the attackers pushed ex-President Mohammad Khatami to the ground.

July 29th, 2009 Kyrgyzstan police disband opposition ralliesBISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — Police broke up opposition rallies protesting the outcome of Kyrgyzstan's recent presidential election on Wednesday, detaining dozens of demonstrators. Opposition activists accuse the government of rigging last week's vote, during which President Kurmanbek Bakiyev won a second term with 76 percent of the ballots.

July 13th, 2009 Iran conservative candidate warns of 'implosion'TEHRAN,Iran — Iran's defeated conservative candidate criticized both the government and opposition protesters, warning that more post-election turmoil could destabilize the country In his remarks published on his Web site late Sunday, Mohsen Rezaei warned that the continuation of the current situation could "drive us toward implosion." Iran has been in turmoil following its June 12 presidential election. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner but the opposition claims widespread fraud.

June 27th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Iran has shut down opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi's website that was the only source for US officials to monitor events in the Islamic country, according to a media report Saturday. State Department officials, who have been monitoring events in Iran from Dubai via Mousavi's website "Kalemah", said the website - the opposition leader's last link to the outside world - was completely shut down, the Fox News reported The officials also noted reports on Iranian websites alleging that Mousavi's supporters, who have been in jailed for anti-government protests, were being tortured in a bid to force them into "confessions" on TV that the demonstrations were part of a foreign plot against the Islamic regime, the report said.

June 24th, 2009 Iran considering downgrading ties with BritainCAIRO — Iran says it is considering downgrading ties with Britain after days of rising tension over criticism of Iran's disputed presidential election. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was asked about the option of reducing diplomatic relations with London after a Cabinet meeting in Tehran.

June 20th, 2009 Feared Basij militia could transform Iran showdownCAIRO — They're the most feared men on the streets of Iran. The pro-government Basij militia has held back its full fury during this week's street demonstrations.

June 19th, 2009 UN rights chief warns Iran over protest crackdownGENEVA — The U.N.'s top human rights official says the arrest of peaceful protesters in Iran raises "troubling questions." U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says Iranian authorities should ensure due process and fair trials for those detained.

June 19th, 2009 Iran's top leader warns against further protestsTEHRAN, Iran — Iran's supreme leader said Friday that Iran's disputed presidential vote had not been rigged, sternly warning protesters to halt massive demonstrations demanding a new election or be held responsible for creating chaos. Ayatollah Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sided with hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and offered no concessions to the opposition.

June 18th, 2009 Iran braces for another mass opposition protestTEHRAN, Iran — Iran braced for a fourth day of massive protests Thursday by opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in open defiance of the country's supreme leader, who has urged the nation to unite behind the Islamic state. Opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi urged supporters to wear black Thursday to the planned rally in mourning for the alleged election fraud during Friday's vote and lives lost during this week's protests.

June 16th, 2009 TEHRAN - Iran Tuesday banned the foreign press from covering protest rallies or gatherings held by supporters of opposition leader Mir-Hossein Moussavi. The foreign press department of the culture ministry said in a circular to all foreign press offices to "seriously avoid" any events not directly authorised by that ministry.

April 21st, 2009 NEW DELHI - With the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) coinciding with the Lok Sabha polls, political parties are planning to put up giant screens at election rallies to woo voters. 'People in India are mad for cricket.