Fiery chaos reigns in streets of Tehran

Private footage of crowd running from explosions, apparent tear gas

TEL AVIV – Clashes between protesters and Iranian security forces heightened today as police reportedly beat protesters and fired tear gas and water cannons at thousands who rallied in defiance of Iran's Islamist government.

Unconfirmed reports put the death toll as high as 150 on the seventh day of post-election protests. Sources at one Tehran hospital confirmed 19 deaths Saturday, according to CNN.

Foreign journalists in Tehran, meanwhile, have been banned from reporting from the streets or attending mass rallies the past few days, prompting news agencies to appeal to Iranians to pass on information.

"Some reports could not be independently confirmed. Foreign news organizations – including the BBC – have been subjected to strict controls which prevent reporters from leaving their offices," read an online news report from the BBC.

The British network, along with other agencies like the Associated Press and the AFP, appealed to those on the streets in Tehran to pass along information and documentation, like photos and video.

The restrictions on the press have been in place since violent protests erupted following the announcement eight days ago of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election.

"If three days from now no journalists are able to testify on what is happening in Iran, it will pave the way for all sorts of abuses," warned Jean-Francois Julliard, secretary general of the Reporters Without Borders organization.

Julliard's group confirming at least 12 journalists have been arrested since last week. His organization staged a rally last week outside the Iranian embassy in France to demand and end to all media clampdowns in Iran.

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The move to ban reporters from going outside was just a fraction of the restrictions imposed by the Iranian government in attempts to crack down on democratic protests taking place in the country's capital.

According to reports by Reuters and the Associated Press, the Iranian government temporarily halted all cell phone service in the country at one point last week. Some service was restored, although many Iranians reported they could not send text messages. More reports of temporary cell phone service closures came in yesterday and today.

Iran reportedly also moved to close down opponent websites and filtered some social networking sites, although according to reports, Twitter has been used to spread some rally information.

The newspaper owned by opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi has not been allowed to publish a print edition in days.

Tehran Province Police Chief Ahmad Reza Radan today announced his police forces would crack down on any gathering or protest rally. The head of the State Security Council issued a stern warning to Mousavi that he would be held responsible if he encouraged protests.

Water cannons, tear gas, gun fire meets protesters

In today's violence, witnesses told AP between 50 and 60 protesters were hospitalized after beatings by police and pro-government militia. The clashes reportedly took place near Revolution Square in Tehran where protesters, many wearing black, were reportedly yelling, "Death to the dictator!" and, "Death to dictatorship!"

Police reportedly fired tear gas, water cannons and guns. The BBC also quoted a witness saying live ammunition was fired.

One stringer told the BBC he saw one man shot and others injured amid running fights.

Last week, 20 people were reportedly killed in protests. Most of the shots were reportedly fired by un-uniformed gunmen many suspect of working with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, which openly back Ahmadinejad.

Opposition leader 'ready for martyrdom'

Mousavi, meanwhile, is "ready for martyrdom," according to one of his aids who was quoted by Reuters.

"In a public address in southwestern Tehran, Mousavi said he was ready for martyrdom and that he would continue his path," said the aid, who was reportedly speaking by telephone from Tehran.

Mousavi also told his supporters in a statement that he would always be at their side, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

He added in the statement he was not confronting the Islamic state. He warned, however, that by not allowing legal protests, Iran may face "dangerous consequences".

Mousavi also repeated calls for the election to be annulled on the grounds it was rigged.

Reports of suicide bomber strike at Islamic shrine

According to official state television, two people were killed today in a suicide bombing at a shrine for Khomeini.

Iran's English-language Press TV said eight people were also wounded in the bombing, later adding the attacker also died.

The semi-official Fars news agency said the bombing took place at the northern wing of the shrine. Its report was confirmed by a senior police official.

Obama emerges from sidelines

Finally weighing in on the issue as opposed to his sideline position during the last week, President Obama said in a taped interview with CBS yesterday he is very concerned by the tenor and tone of Khamenei's comments as well as by the crackdown by security forces of public protests.

"If the Iranian government seeks the respect of the international community, it must respect the dignity of its own people and govern through consent, not coercion," Obama said.

Both houses of the U.S. Congress yesterday approved a resolution condemning the crackdown on protests in Iran and the country's suppression of the Internet and cell phones.

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