Violence in Iran as protesters, police clash

Police and protesters clashed again in Iran during protests that were held November 4th at the same time as state-sanctioned rallies were taking place to celebrate the Iranian take-over of the US Embassy 30 years ago.

Wednesday saw marked contrasts in Iran as students, whose predecessors had taken over the U.S. Embassy 30 years ago, took to the streets to protest against the Iranian government. Chants of

"Death to Dictators"

were heard in some parts of Tehran. Some people chose to demonstrate silently Wednesday. At the same time, rallies marking the 30th anniversary of the embassy take-over, a day celebrated by Iranians as a blow against the United States, saw people chanting

"Death to Americans."

Some of the government supporters burned American flags during the rallies. Early reports state that thousands of Iranians participated in the protest Wednesday. Thousands of students had taken to the streets in June after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected, an election result disputed by the students and opposition parties. Reports are that police have beaten some protesters with batons during the rally outside of the US Embassy. Police also kicked demonstrators, fired tear gas at them, and unconfirmed reports say that police also fired bullets at protesters. Some of the protesters called the Ayatollah a 'murderer.' The Iranian government reacted in exactly the same way it had in the summer, disrupting cell phone service and internet in an attempt to stop the protests. Police told protesters to

"stay off the streets."

The rally was to mark the 30th anniversary since the US Embassy had been seized by Iranian students. Protests were scattered throughout Iran, with Tehran as well as other cities. Clashes between police and protesters occurred off and on throughout the afternoon. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, told students Tuesday that the United States has the same contradictory approach to Iran that it always has -- talking about engaging in negotiations but threatening sanctions. The Ayatollah also said that it would not bow to American attempts to dominate Iran.

"If anyone intends to violate the rights of the Iranian nation, the nation will firmly stand up to them and will make them kneel down."

President Barack Obama addressed Iran in a statement released Wednesday afternoon saying

"Iran must choose. We have heard for thirty years what the Iranian government is against; the question, now, is what kind of future it is for. The American people have great respect for the people of Iran and their rich history. The world continues to bear witness to their powerful calls for justice, and their courageous pursuit of universal rights. It is time for the Iranian government to decide whether it wants to focus on the past, or whether it will make the choices that will open the door to greater opportunity, prosperity, and justice for its people."

30 years ago, Iranian students took over the US Embassy, holding 52 diplomats and staff hostage after the United States refused to "... hand over shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi." The CIA had backed a coup in 1953, which resulted in the overthrow of the Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. It appeared that most Iranians supported the student action at the embassy, with public chanting of "Death to America" heard everywhere in Iran. The actions by both America and Iran have created a rift in political relations between the two nations. It is not known how many people sustained injuries during the clash with police. The opposition seems to be adopting a strategy of protesting during state sanctioned public functions. In September, the opposition held similar protests during the the annual al-Quds day, a celebration expressing solidarity with the Palestinians.