Witnesses said Iranian police and members of the pro-government militia
were out in full force in Tehran Tuesday, in anticipation of protests
by opposition supporters.
Demonstrations were expected in Tehran's main square Tuesday to mark
the anniversary of protests in support of Prime Minister Mohammed
Mossadegh, who was removed from office in 1953 in a CIA-backed coup.
Authorities have banned foreign media from covering the demonstrations.
News organizations are relying heavily on eyewitness accounts. It is
not immediately clear whether any protests took place.
Iran's June 12 election sparked massive protests by opposition leaders
who said the vote was rigged in favor of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Earlier on Tuesday, Iran's police chief accused opposition leaders of
provoking instability and said his forces would act firmly to uphold
the law.
The official IRNA news agency quoted Esmail Ahmadi Moghaddam as saying
those who do not abide by law are "liars" who seek to create discord by
spreading doubt in the Islamic republic.
His comments came a day after former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami
called for a nationwide referendum on the government, in a bid to end
Iran's post-election crisis.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has endorsed the re-election of Mr. Ahmadinejad.
Tuesday, the editor of the hardline Kayhan newspaper,
who is close to the supreme leader, criticized the opposition's call
for a referendum as a "Western plot" aimed at creating chaos.
In a speech to officials Monday, Khamenei said Iran's elite should
avoid making comments that can, in his words, help the country's
enemies. He also lashed out against the West for allegedly meddling in
Iran's affairs.