Tehran, December 27: Iranian police fired tear gas and beat protesters in clashes Sunday with thousands of opposition supporters chanting anti-government slogans during a Shiite event, witnesses said.
Security forces moved in as crowds of protesters gathered in several spots along the main Enghelab street, witnesses said, adding that police fired tear gas to break up the gatherings.
It is the second straight day that opposition supporters have used the solemn Ashura festival, which culminates on Sunday, to demonstrate against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s election.
“Security forces beat up protesters taking refuge in houses near Imam Hossein square” on the eastern end of Enghelab street, which runs across the city, a witness said.
Another witness said security force members on motorbikes chased protesters off Enghelab square in the west “but people regrouped in a nearby street and more are coming to join them.”
They chanted “Ya Hossein, Mir Hossein” in support of opposition leader and defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi.
Meanwhile, thousands of Iranian government loyalists poured into central Tehran on Sunday, witnesses said.
The pro-government demonstrators gathered in the middle of Enghelab street after opposition supporters were chased off.
Many were shouting, “This army (of people) has come for the love of the leader” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, witnesses said.
Meanwhile, an opposition website said that four protesters were shot dead by security forces in central Tehran Sunday.
—Agencies