General

Iranian protesters hit with tear gas and paintballs

Dozens detained, including opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi

Thousands of Iranians opposed to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s rule marched in the streets of Tehran Monday chanting “death to dictators.” Crowds endured tear gas, police batons and paintball attacks from plain-clothes police backed by Republican Guards. Dozens, if not hundreds, were detained. Opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi and fellow leaders of the pro-democracy Green movement were placed under house arrest, reports the BBC. The protesters’ main goal was to show that the movement to unseat Ahmadinejad is still alive. After the widely-condemned election in June 2009, Iranians came out in large numbers to protest with the support of many western governments. More than 80 demonstrators were killed during the six months that followed because of their opposition, say supporters. The local electricity supply in Tehran was cut as night fell Monday and most of the protesters returned to their homes.

BBC News

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