A major demonstration was scheduled for today by the reformist groups in Iran to take place in Tehran in the Baharestan area...unfortunately it seems that the security forces were out in force well before the peaceful protest started.
**Update 3 - witness video from CNN**
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
**Update 5 - wealth of videos from today are out here:**
http://ourpassion.tv/...
**Warning graphic content**
Its clear the existing regime has decided to silence any further dissent with whatever means are necessary. I don't have video yet but here are some messages coming over Twitter from reliable contacts in Iran. Its heartbreaking to read some of these.
saw 7/8 militia beating one woman with baton on ground - she had no defense nothing - sure that she is dead
Huge number of arrests in Baharestan. They avoid any stoppage & arrest on the spot.
Military forces were present in Baharestan from hours before not letting a rally to form.
all shops was closed - nowhere to go - they follow ppls with helicopters - smoke and fire is everywhere
ppl run into alleys and militia standing there waiting - from 2 sides they attack ppl in middle of alleys
so many ppl arrested - young & old - they take ppl away - we lose our group
they were waiting for us - they all have guns and riot uniforms - it was like a mouse trap - ppl being shot like animals
So the hammer is down. We watch with despair while a regime crushes peaceful protest brutally in the streets. Meanwhile, anecodotal reports continue to come in illustrating the random violence the police and militias are exerting in the streets.
Several sites have this story up this morning - 17 year old tortured by police for being on the street.
One of them asked me if Mr. Khatami would come save us, while they were breaking my fingers and cutting the finger webs. Although I swore a thousand times that I had not voted and had never participated in any demonstration, they didn't care and just kept beating me hard.
This kind of brutality is almost unthinkable. However complex the situation, I believe the international community (including Arab states) must take political steps to make these actions as painful as possible for the Iranian regime. Cease diplomatic relations. Bar from organizations. Ban all trade in policing and military equipment. Do everything possible to support the people of Iran legally.
Not a lot more to add right now, huffingtonpost and the msm sites are a little slow today with their live blogging updates so I thought it best to get this on DKOS. The green revolution appears to be faced with a very severe crackdown today.
**Updated - reliable source indicates 3 shot so far in this one demonstration, 1 a 19 year old girl shot in the neck**
**Update 2 More eyewitness statements**
they pull away the dead into trucks - like factory - no human can do this - we beg Allah for save us
Lalezar Sq is same as Baharestan - unbelevable - ppls murdered everywhere
in Baharestan we saw militia with axe choping ppl like meat - blood everywhere - like butcher - Allah Akbar
Tearful Iranian eyewitness in Iran tells CNN: "This is a massacre... you should help us."
Woman tells CNN that Iranian security forces opened fire at protesters outside the parliament
Anyone catching this on CNN right now ?
And another very poignant message over twitter from a reliable source, obviously very distraught :
I have cried so much i have no tears left. I'm ready to die for my soil. My people. ALLAH O AKBAR.
**Update 4 - another gruesome eyewitness account**
http://liberal4lifeblog.blogspot.com...
all of a sudden some 500 people with clubs and woods they uh came out of hidayan(sp?) mosque and they pulled into the streets and they uh started beating everyone and they they uh, they tried to beat everyone on sadi(sp?) bridge and um throwing them off of the bridge and...