IRAN: Thousands gather to mark the 30th anniversary of the storming of the former U.S. embassy in Tehran

Record ID: 313836

  • Title: IRAN: Thousands gather to mark the 30th anniversary of the storming of the former U.S. embassy in Tehran
  • Date: 5th November 2009
  • Summary: TEHRAN, IRAN (NOVEMBER 4, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FEMALE STUDENTS WAVING IRANIANS FLAG AND CHANTING SLOGAN "DEATH TO AMERICA" STUDENTS PROTESTERS HOLDING PLACARDS CLOSE OF PLACARD READING "DEATH TO AMERICA, DEATH TO ISRAEL" PLACARD READING 'DEATH TO AMERICA' SHOWING ISRAELI AND U.S. FLAGS PROTESTERS BURNING U.S. FLAG VARIOUS OF RALLY IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 20th November 2009 12:00
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  • Reuters ID: LVAEKK25CWY59GW7OSLTBM4GKXCG
  • Story Text: Thousands of people gathered in front of the former U.S. embassy for an official ceremony to marking the 30th anniversary of the storming of the U.S. embassy in Tehran on Wednesday (Nov 4).
    Anti-Western rallies usually take place outside the building now called the "den of espionage" in Iran to mark the anniversary of the day in 1979 the embassy was seized.
    During the Iranian revolution, militants stormed the embassy on Nov. 4, 1979 and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.
    Protesters in the opposition camp targeted other foreign countries too.
    Some reformist websites called on people to gather outside the Russian embassy, in an apparent protest at Moscow's recognition of Ahmadinejad's re-election on June 12.
    One witness said that dozens of police and Basij forces were also around the Russian embassy.
    Another witness said dozens of police were walking around the British embassy in central Tehran.
    In a separate incident in the capital, witnesses said police clashed with supporters of Iran's opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi after the anniversary rally turned violent.
    In September, opposition demonstrators clashed with government backers and police at annual pro-Palestinian rallies.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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