Iran braces for showdown as government, opposition supporters plan coinciding street rallies
By APFriday, September 18, 2009
Iranian government supporters, opposition to rally
TEHRAN, Iran — Police are deploying across Tehran as people take to the streets for a government-sponsored pro-Palestinian rally that will be addressed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The opposition has said it would also hold a protest on Friday, in defiance of warnings by the clerical establishment against anti-government rallies.
There has not been a mass opposition demonstration since mid-July.
Both opposition leaders — Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mahdi Karrubi — have said they will appear at in the rally, raising concerns for a showdown between security troops and opposition activists.
The demonstrations mark Quds Day — an annual event dedicated to condemning Israel and expressing support for the Palestinians. Quds is Arabic for Jerusalem.
