Iran stops opposition leader from attending protest

Iran prevented opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi from taking part in events marking the Islamic Revolution anniversary. Security forces dressed in civilian clothes prevented Mousavi and his wife from getting to a protest march in a central square.

At the same time, news outlets associated with the Ayatollah regime accused Mousavi of being a coward who was too scared to go out into the streets.

Mousavi, who lost in the controversial presidential elections last June, had wanted to join the opposition's demonstrations in central Tehran, but he was surrounded by security forces. According to a website associated with the opposition, he succeeded in getting to the square before being forced to retreat.

His colleagues in the reformist camp, Mehdi Karoubi and Mohammad Khatami had arrived earlier to take part in the celebrations, but their vehicles were attacked by extremists. All three escaped without injury, but the website reported that Mousavi's wife, Zahra Rahnavard, was hit by clubs.

Iranian news agency Fars, associated with the regime, offered a different take on events, reporting that Mousavi had hidden in a nearby house fearing that he would be attacked.

In an attempt to make him look ridiculous, Fars reported that he had run away using his wife's veil as a disguise. The claim was later changed to assert that he had covered himself with a strip of cloth.

"When he saw the millions of people in the parade, he ran into an alley and hid," the report said, adding that for over three hours the reformist leader stayed hidden in a nearby house. "When his bodyguards saw that the streets had emptied, they brought him out wrapped in a strip of cloth and he quickly left the area in a vehicle."

This is not the first time that Iranian news agencies have issued reports whose credibility is doubtful in an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of opposition leaders who are considered to be traitors by regime supporters.

The 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution took place in the shadow of political tensions that have been evident since the controversial presidential elections which the opposition claims were rigged.

Tensions have been heightened recently due to the international community's attempts to agree on severe sanctions against Iran for its refusal to suspend its uranium enrichment program.

While Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad oversees the celebrations and speaks with pride about developments in Iran's nuclear program, opposition leaders try to turn attention to the political crisis.

Hundreds of thousands turned out for the celebrations, but protest marches were also held by supporters of the reformists who oppose Ahmadinejad.