Witnesses: fierce clashes on Tehran streets, police fire tear gas, water cannon at protesters

TEHRAN, Iran — Police beat protesters and fired tear gas and water cannons at thousands who rallied Saturday in open defiance of Iran’s clerical government, sharply escalating the most serious internal conflict since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Witnesses: police use tear gas, water cannon to disperse thousands of protesters in Tehran

TEHRAN, Iran — Witnesses say police are using tear and water cannons to disperse thousands of protesters rallying in Tehran to demand a new presidential election.

Witnesses report rallies in Tehran despite threat of harsh action against opposition

TEHRAN, Iran — Witnesses say protesters are rallying in Tehran despite a government threat of harsh action if they take to the streets again to demand a new election.

Iran threatens harsh action against opposition, saying police and other forces will crack down

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s government threatened harsh action Saturday if opposition supporters take to the streets again to demand a new election in open defiance of the country’s supreme leader.

Iran issues stern warning to opposition leader not to encourage supporters to stage mass rally

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s opposition leader received another stern warning Saturday not to encourage his supporters to take to the streets a day after the country’s top leader sought to end the deepening election crisis by effectively declaring President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner.

Iran’s leader warns opposition: End street protests or be accountable for ‘bloodshed’

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s supreme leader sought to end the deepening crisis over disputed elections with one decisive speech — declaring the vote will almost certainly stand and sternly warning opposition leaders to end street protests or be held responsible for any “bloodshed and chaos” to come.

Tehran residents shout ‘God is Great’ from rooftops in defiance of Iran’s supreme leader

TEHRAN, Iran — Tehran residents are climbing to their roofs and crying “God is Great!” in open defiance of Iran’s supreme leader.

Iran’s top leader sternly warns of crackdown if massive election protests continue

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sternly warned Friday of a crackdown if protesters continue their massive street rallies, escalating the government’s showdown with demonstrators demanding a new presidential election.

Iran’s top leader warns against further protests, calls June 12 vote a ‘definitive victory’

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s supreme leader said Friday that Iran’s disputed presidential vote had not been rigged, sternly warning protesters to halt massive demonstrations demanding a new election or be held responsible for creating chaos.

Supreme leader calls Iran vote “definitive victory;” offers no concession to opposition

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s supreme leader said Friday that there was “definitive victory” and no rigging in disputed presidential elections, offering no concession to protesters demanding the vote be canceled and held again.

Iran top leader calls recent election historic celebration in rare Friday address to country

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s supreme leader says the country’s recent presidential elections showed off the country’s religious democracy for the world to see.

Iran’s top leader addresses nation after mass opposition protests challenge ruling clerics

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s supreme leader addressed the nation Friday in his first public comments since opposition supporters flooded Tehran’s streets in an unprecedented challenge to the country’s ruling clerics.

Hundreds of thousands rally to mourn protesters killed in anti-government clashes in Iran

TEHRAN, Iran — Hundreds of thousands of protesters dressed in black and green flooded the streets of Tehran on Thursday in a somber, candlelit show of defiance and mourning for those killed in clashes after Iran’s disputed presidential election. The massive march — the fourth this week — sent a powerful message that opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi has the popular backing to sustain his unprecedented challenge to Iran’s ruling clerics.

Hundreds of thousands rally in Tehran to mourn dead, defy Iran’s highest power

TEHRAN, Iran — Hundreds of thousands of protesters wearing black and carrying candles filled the streets of Tehran again Thursday, joining opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi to mourn demonstrators killed in clashes over Iran’s disputed election.

Many thousands of protesters rally in Tehran to mourn dead, defying Iran’s highest power

TEHRAN, Iran — Tens of thousands of protesters wearing black and carrying candles filled the streets of Tehran again Thursday, joining opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi to mourn demonstrators killed in clashes over Iran’s disputed election.

Tens of thousands of protesters rally in Tehran to mourn dead, defying Iran’s highest power

TEHRAN, Iran — Tens of thousands of black-clad protesters filled the streets of Tehran again Thursday, joining opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi to mourn demonstrators killed in clashes over Iran’s disputed election.

Mousavi supporters rally in Tehran to mourn dead protesters, defying Iran’s highest authority

TEHRAN, Iran — Supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi rallied in the streets of Tehran again Thursday over the disputed presidential election, answering the opposition leader’s call to turn out dressed in black to mourn demonstrators killed in clashes, a witness said.

Mousavi calls new rally in Tehran, urges supporters to wear black to mourn protesters killed

TEHRAN, Iran — Opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi called his followers back into the streets of Tehran Thursday for another mass rally over Iran’s disputed presidential election and urged them to wear black to mourn those killed in clashes.

Tehran braces for another mass opposition protest in defiance of the country’s supreme leader

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran braced for a fourth day of massive protests Thursday by opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in open defiance of the country’s supreme leader, who has urged the nation to unite behind the Islamic state.

Iran directly accuses US of meddling in deepening crisis over disputed presidential election

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran directly accused the United States of meddling in the deepening crisis over a disputed presidential election and broadened its media clampdown Wednesday to include blogs and news Web sites. But protesters took to the streets in growing defiance of the country’s Islamic rulers.

As thousands march, Iran accuses US of role in deepening unrest; authorities extend crackdown

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran directly accused the United States of meddling in the deepening crisis over a disputed presidential election and broadened its media clampdown Wednesday to include blogs and news Web sites. But protesters took to the streets in growing defiance of the country’s Islamic rulers.

Iran accuses US of meddling after disputed election; thousands march in Tehran again

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran accused the United States on Wednesday of “intolerable” meddling in its internal affairs, alleging for the first time that Washington has fueled a bitter postelection dispute. Opposition supporters marched in huge numbers through Tehran’s streets for a third straight day to protest the outcome of the balloting.

Iran accuses US of interference in election feud; opposition stages new mass rally in Tehran

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran has accused the United States of “intolerable” meddling in its internal affairs, alleging for the first time that Washington has fueled a bitter post-election dispute.

Iran’s opposition stages another mass rally in Tehran over disputed election

TEHRAN, Iran — An amateur video shows another mass rally of opposition supporters in Tehran and state TV also reported the protest over disputed presidential election.

Iran’s opposition leader calls for mass rally Thursday in direct challenge to government

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi issued a direct challenge Wednesday to the country’s supreme leader and cleric-led system, calling for a mass rally to protest disputed election results and violence against his followers.

Opposition leader Mousavi calls for mass rally Thursday in direct challenge to Iran government

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi issued a direct challenge to the country’s supreme leader and cleric-led system Wednesday, calling for a mass rally to protest disputed election results and violence against his followers.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warn media as opposition plans rally, heightening tension

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s most powerful military force is warning online media of a crackdown over their coverage of the country’s election crisis.

Rival demonstrations held in Iranian capital; government offers to recount some ballots

TEHRAN, Iran — Thousands of Iranians swarmed the streets of Tehran on Tuesday in rival demonstrations over the country’s disputed presidential election, pushing a deep crisis into its fourth day despite a government attempt to placate the opposition by recounting a limited number of ballots.

Iran’s supreme leader calls for national unity after rallies for, against clerical regime

TEHRAN, Iran — State television says Iran’s supreme leader has called for national unity during a meeting with representatives of the four candidates in disputed presidential elections.

Thousands rally for, against Iranian regime as Guardian Council agrees to limited vote recount

TEHRAN, Iran — Thousands of protesters have rallied in Tehran in support of reformist opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, according to witnesses and video footage.