As thousands of riot police and militia lined Tehran's streets Sunday, the public rift among Iranian leaders appeared to be widening, CNN reported.
The country's foreign minister disputed allegations of ballot irregularities in Iran's disputed presidential election, and the parliamentary speaker implied the nation's election authorities had sided with one candidate.
Amateur video showed large crowds marching down a major Tehran thoroughfare shouting, "Don't be afraid, we're together!" and "Death to dictator!" The person who shot the video said it was taken Sunday, but CNN could not immediately verify that the protest had taken place. Eyewitnesses reported a protest also took place at Southern Tehran's Azad University, where final exams were postponed after about 200 students refused to take them.
Thousands of riot police and members of the Basij militia lined the streets of the city, according to eyewitnesses. Security personnel surrounded the headquarters of the country's state television and radio. Many shops were closed, and shopkeepers who were open said they planned to close early Sunday. However, no tanks were seen on the city's streets. Traffic was light.
Police have not been given permission to use firearms in confronting protesters, Tehran Police Chief Maj. Gen. Azizollah Rajabpour told Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency. Police have not used firearms on the public, he said, and allegations to the contrary are false and "spread by those who want to muddy the waters," Mehr said.
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