Iran Reportedly Jails Mousavi

Hardliners call for leaders to face trial, death penalty

(NEWSER) - Inspired by Egypt , tens of thousands turned out yesterday for an opposition rally in Iran—leading some lawmakers to take an especially hard line against opposition leaders today, calling for them to stand trial and be put to death. Pro-government legislators chanted, "Death to Mousavi, Karroubi, and Khatami," three of the leaders, at parliament today, the AP reports. "We believe the people have lost their patience and demand capital punishment," said 221 lawmakers in a statement. More»

Anti-government rally in Tehran buckles under crackdown

(NEWSER) - The Iranians who took to the streets of Tehran yesterday for what was supposed to be a major protest met with thousands of security forces armed with clubs, tear gas, and Tasers, who broke up the gatherings, witnesses tell the Washington Post . There were also unconfirmed reports of gunshots, and opposition groups claim that at least two people were killed. Police, meanwhile, say they arrested a man carrying explosives. More»

Even Iran, Iraq seeing continued unrest

(NEWSER) - Unrest continues to spread through northern Africa and the Middle East, with protests rocking Bahrain, Yemen, Libya, Iran, and even Iraq. The latest from yesterday and today, from the New York Times , BusinessWeek , and AFP :

• In Bahrain, the death toll after a surprise police attack on protesters rose to five.
• In Yemen, protests—and fights between those for and against the government —reached their seventh consecutive day, with police firing automatic rifles into the air in an effort to keep the opposing sides apart. Yesterday, government supporters used electroshock batons against those protesting the president and one person was killed.
• In Libya, protesters organized a "Day of Rage" today to challenge the 41-year rule of Moammar Gadhafi. At least four people were killed in clashes with security forces yesterday; one human rights group claims as many as 13 were killed by snipers and dozens wounded.

Tehran University physicist was a Mousavi supporter

(AP) - A nuclear physics professor who publicly backed opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi in the June presidential election was killed today when a bomb-rigged motorcycle blew up outside his home. State media identified the victim as Masoud Ali Mohammadi, a professor at Tehran University, which has been at the center of recent protests by student opposition members. Before the election, pro-reform websites published Mohammadi's name among a list of 240 university teachers who supported Mousavi. More»

Opposition's tenacity could signal 'breaking point' for Tehran: experts

(NEWSER) - The anti-government protests that started in Tehran this weekend show that the opposition movement still has plenty of fight in it—and could eventually topple the clerical regime. Though the fraudulent election was a full 6 months ago, the protesters, whose efforts reach the world on YouTube, appear uncowed by riot police and Basij strongmen. That suggests the regime's usual weapons of oppression have lost some of their punch. More»