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Street Protests Cool, But Iran Opposition Takes to Rooftops

Mousavi supporters chant from rooftops, but opposition's next step is unclear

By M. Morris,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 19, 2009 4:32 PM CDT

(Newser) – Calls of “Allahu Akbar” punctuated Tehran’s evening quiet as some residents took to their rooftops to protest Ayatollah Khamenei’s support of what they see as fraudulent election results, MSNBC reports. Despite the rooftop protests—a tactic used in the 1979 revolution—outright street demonstrations from supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi have stopped for the moment, and it is uncertain whether they will resume tomorrow.

If the opposition decides to restart the protests, it could face dire consequences— Khamenei called for an end to demonstrations and wept, lamenting the state of the republic. In the past, weeping in a public address has been used by Khamenei to signal to the Basij—a volunteer militia—that it could use violence to silence protesters, an analyst said.

A member of a pro-government militia, left, stands guard on a rooftop as demonstrators approach near a rally supporting opposition presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi in Tehran on Monday.
A member of a pro-government militia, left, stands guard on a rooftop as demonstrators approach near a rally supporting opposition presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi in Tehran on Monday.   (AP Photo)
This photo from Monday shows a member of a pro-government Basij militia throwing a rock from the group's building at demonstrators as they approach the militia's base in Tehran, Iran.
This photo from Monday shows a member of a pro-government Basij militia throwing a rock from the group's building at demonstrators as they approach the militia's base in Tehran, Iran.   (AP Photo)
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers his sermon in front of a picture of the late Ayatollah Khomeini, during prayers at the Tehran University campus today.
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers his sermon in front of a picture of the late Ayatollah Khomeini, during prayers at the Tehran University campus today.   (AP Photo)
Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, center, speaks to supporters at a demonstration in Tehran yesterday.
Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, center, speaks to supporters at a demonstration in Tehran yesterday.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
justme
Jun 20, 2009 1:23 AM CDT
Now I fear an Iranian version of Tienanmen Square.

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