Word: basij
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...From the time the sun set Tuesday evening, Tehran was filled with the sounds of small explosions and the smell of smoke. Police and Basij militia presence throughout the city was as high as it has been at any point since last year's controversial presidential election, but for the most part, the law-enforcement officers remained cool, with some officers even joining crowds around bonfires and chatting with the attendees. Some small scuffles broke out when Basij arrived to break up impromptu block parties. (See pictures of Iran's antigovernment demonstrations...
Police and Basij erected roadblocks and conducted car searches in much of the capital over the weekend. Last week, Tehran Governor Morteza Tamadon announced that 500 individuals involved in the illicit trade of fireworks had been arrested. "Tradition showcases the beauties of a culture," said Tamadon, adding that "the fire ritual offers nothing but ugliness, fear and worry ... With decisive action, we will try to wipe the problem called Chaharshanbe Suri from the mind of society within the next two years." That is unlikely to happen...
...easy to see how any attempt at disruption may have been cowed. On Revolution Street, which stretches from Azadi Square eastward, tens of thousands of police forces as well as paramilitary Basij were standing guard. In a line of 20 Basij motorcycles on a side street, young riders stood nearby, chatting and laughing - in stark contrast to earlier protests, during which most Basij were constantly on the move responding to opposition protests in various squares in the city. Indeed, the Green Movement, with its vaunted viral organization, may have been stymied by the regime this time. As late as Wednesday...
...Karroubi had announced an appearance at Sadeghiyeh Square, northwest of Azadi Square; CNN.com carried video of what appears to be a Karroubi supporter showing a scene of apparent protests before a hand or pair of hands attempts to cover the lens of the camera. Some reports allege that the Basij suppressed the Karroubi rally. Other protesters had planned to gather in Haft-e-Tir Square, northeast of Azadi. In addition, video circulated on opposition sites showing people tearing down government posters or chanting slogans in the subway. State-run television also mentioned small protests made up of hundreds...
...anniversary, the Supreme Leader has given a green light to pro-government forces, like the Basij paramilitaries, to engage in the toughest possible action against protesters who may try to disrupt or hijack Thursday's official rallies. "Those who stand against the greatness of the Iranian nation are not of the people," Khamenei said on Monday in words reminiscent of his first call for a crackdown on protests at Friday prayers the week after the June election. "They have nothing to do with the masses...