Heavy police deployment in Tehran but no protests

Mar 15, 2011, 19:58 GMT

Berlin - Protests called by critics of Iran's government failed to take place on Tuesday amid a heavy security presence in the Iranian capital, Teheran.

The call, initiated by a movement known as Green Wave, was primarily aimed at securing the release of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Moussavi and Mehdi Karroubi, who have been kept house arrest with their wives for almost four weeks.

Large numbers of police and other security forces were deployed in several parts of the Iranian capital, with opposition websites calling the action 'unofficial martial law.'

Police in Tehran had banned motorcycles from the streets from early afternoon, reports said. None of the opposition websites carried any reports of protests in the capital or elsewhere.

The opposition instead declared a special ceremony would be held on Thursday at the Tehran cemetery to commemorate those killed since protests began in summer 2009, following the presidential election.

The vote, overshadowed by allegations of fraud and eventually led to re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Tuesday marked Charshanbeh Souri, or Feast of Fire, held every year on the last Tuesday night of the Persian year, which ends on March 20.

During the popular festival, people jump over bonfires to rid themselves of the negative effects of the old year and start the new one with the glow and warmth of the flames.

Officials feared activists might have used the festival for political protests and ordered police to crack down on any dissent.

At least three people were killed and an unknown number of protesters arrested in three demonstrations in recent weeks.

Parliamentary deputies, clerical groups and government supporters have called for the execution of Moussavi and Karroubi for allegedly undermining the Islamic system and collaborating with foreigners.

The government and judiciary have distanced themselves from the calls and instead placed the pair under house arrest, cutting their phone and internet connections.

The opposition has pledged to continue protests every Tuesday until the two men are set free.

Opposition websites reported that the two daughters of Moussavi were finally allowed to visit their parents but not allowed to talk to them. According to a statement by the daughters, the entire meeting took place in absolute silence silence.

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