Tehran police will confront "illegal gatherings"

Security Commander of Tehran has warned that the police will confront any “illegal” gatherings on June 12.

Commander Hossein Sajedinia said: “The police will cooperate with any legal gathering, but illegal gatherings whether on special days or any other day will be confronted;” ILNA reported on Tuesday.

This warning from the police comes a day after opposition leaders, MirHosein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi called on people to join the demonstrations for the anniversary of the controversial presidential elections on June 12 if the government issues a gathering permit.

The reformist group, Mojahedin of Islamic Revolution also issued a statement urging the government to issue a permit for peaceful demonstrations on June 12.

In the past year the opposition leaders and reformist organizations have applied to the Ministry of Interior for permits to stage peaceful demonstrations against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad government, which the opposition claims has ceased power through electoral fraud, but the government has refused to issue such a permit.

In previous gatherings, the government has confronted protesters with fierce violence causing deaths and injuries.