Tehran Dissidents Counter Anti-American Government Rally

Tens of thousands of protesters tried to reassert their opposition to the Iranian government Monday by demonstrating against a state-sponsored anti-American rally in Tehran, the New York Times reports. The government event, which followed an angry speech by Ayatollah Khamenei, marked the 30th anniversary of the country's takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Iran's capital city. Despite warnings, the protesters flooded into the streets, wearing the signature green of the burgeoning opposition movement, shouting "death to the dictator" and asserting that Russia, not the United States, is Iran's real enemy.

Ruining government holidays has become the choice method of protest for supporters of opposition leader Mir Hussein Moussavi, who lost a highly contentious election to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad earlier this year. Moussavi's supporters last appeared in September on Quds Day, an Iranian anti-Israel holiday. The government muffled Monday's protest more quickly, leading to a number of injuries and several dozen arrests. Moussavi himself was prevented from attending by security officers.

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