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IRAN: Tehran is quiet a day after protests

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Tehran was quiet early Sunday. There was uneasiness over what might unfold next: Would protesters take to the streets again, as they did on Saturday, to clash with security forces and a government-backed militia? Or were both sides recalibrating strategies to keep the nation from sliding into further chaos?

Iran radio reported 19 deaths from Saturday’s violence. Iran’s Press TV said that at least 13 people were killed and 20 wounded. The casualties ‘occurred after some ‘terrorist elements’ infiltrated the rallies. The armed terrorists set fire on a mosque and two gas stations and attacked a military post,’ according to the TV’s website.

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The website also reports: ‘Police officials said they have successfully managed to restore security in the main streets of Tehran, including Azadi Avenue and Enqelab Square, after eight consecutive days of sporadic street protests. Supporters of defeated candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi have rejected President Ahmadinejad’s decisive win in the June 12 election and have staged a torrent of illegal rallies ever since.’

Reuters reported that Iran Police Chief Ismail Ahmadi Moghaddam told opposition leader Mir-Hossein Mousavi that ‘bandits are acting in the shadow of the illegal atmosphere created by you.’

-- Jeffrey Fleishman in Cairo

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