Rivals rally in Tehran to show strength

TEHRAN (AFP/Reuters) - Thousands of supporters of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his defeated challenger staged rival rallies on Tuesday as the nation grappled with its worst crisis since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
The authorities also imposed a clampdown on foreign media. Ahmadinejads supporters appeared to have denied the Opposition the chance to keep up the momentum of mass street protests by mobilising thousands of demonstrators in central Tehran where Mirhossein Mousavis supporters had planned to gather again.
But authorities banned another Opposition rally on Tuesday and state television showed live pictures of thousands of Ahmadi-nejad supporters, some waving Iranian flags, gathering at the Vali-ye Asr Square before any Mousavi supporters arrived. 7 people have so far been killed in clashes with police in Tehran.
US President Barack Obama, who has called for dialogue with Iran over its contested nuclear drive, raised deep concerns over the election but said he would not meddle in the affairs of the Islamic republic. State television described the regime-backed demonstration as a unifying rally, showing images of vast crowds of demonstrators waving flags and banners.
Mousavi had urged his supporters not to turn up for their own rally in a bid to avoid clashes, but a correspondent with Irans English language Press TV said it had turned into a massive demonstration.
His supporters marched towards the state television building, despite Mousavis call for them to call off a planned rally.
However, AFP could not reach the site of the demonstrations as Iran has banned foreign media organisations from covering such events. The authorities have warned they would nip any velvet revolution in the bud and have rounded up scores of people in Tehran and other cities, including prominent reformist leaders close to former president Mohammad Khatami. Iran arrested two prominent reformists on Tuesday, their aides said.
A founding member of Nobel peace prize winner Shirin Ebadis human rights group was also arrested on Tuesday, a colleague said. The Fars new agency, quoting Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejeie, said security forces had arrested another 26 masterminds of post-election unrest sweeping Tehran.
Saeed Hajjarian and Mohammad Ali Abtahi, close aides of former reformist president Mohammad Khatami, were arrested at their homes before dawn, aides said. According to CBC news, thousands of supporters of Ahmadinejad flooded the streets of Tehran.
Mousavi supporters marching said they planned to assemble in front of the state television IRIB building in northern Tehran.
Witnesses said some supporters had already gathered close to the building, which was ringed by riot police.
Wearing wristbands and ribbons in his green campaign colours, the Mousavi supporters carried his picture and made victory signs.
Unlike Mondays demonstration where marchers chanted anti-Ahmadinejad slogans, they walked largely in silence.
Some were passing on messages to others to meet again on Wednesday for a rally at Tehrans central Haft-e Tir Square.
Dozens of riot police, flanked by Basij militia forces, watched them as they passed through one major square. Near the marchers a riot police motorbike lay on the road in flames, but the demonstration appeared to be peaceful.