Iran's police chief warns against potential protests
CNN
06-Feb-2010

(CNN) -- Iran's police chief warned Saturday that security forces will firmly confront "illegal" gatherings on the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, a semi-official news agency reported.

Ismail Ahmadi Moghaddam told semi-official news agency ILNA that it is "natural" that security forces carry out what he called their responsibility if security is threatened or if "sacred morals" are insulted on the "pretext" of criticism and protest.

Two top Iranian opposition leaders have called on supporters to protest Thursday, the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, an opposition Web site reported.

According to The Green Way Web site, opposition leaders Mehdi Karroubi and Mir Hossein Moussavi met last week at Karroubi's home. They called for people to take to the streets on Thursday to demand their rights back as citizens of Iran, the site reported.

According to the Saturday ILNA report, Moghaddam also said that security forces use "professional technology to prevent damages" in society, and mentioned monitoring text messages and e-mails.

Further details were not immediately available.

Opposition protests were launched after the disputed June 12 presidential election that gave hardline Ahmadinejad a second term. The government denies accusations of fraud.

About 4,000 people have been arrested in the post-election crackdown.

Last week, authorities hanged Mohammed Reza Ali Zamani, 37, and Arash Rahmanipour, 20, w... >>>

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