Governor of Tehran warns of crackdown on any rallies

Supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi have called for new demonstrations in Tehran and several other cities. The calls were a bid to revive street action after police, Revolutionary Guards and Basij militiamen crushed the dramatic mass protests that erupted over Iran's disputed June 12 presidential election. There has not been a major protest in 11 days since the crackdown. Tehran governor Morteza Tamaddon warned that any new march would meet the same fate. "If some individuals plan to have anti-security move through listening to a call by counter-revolutionary networks, they will be smashed under the feet of our aware people," he said, according to the state news agency IRNA in a report late Wednesday.Â

"Enemies are angry about the calm after the post-election plots and are trying to damage the peace through foreign, counter-revolutionary and notorious networks," Tamaddon said, adding that public awareness would defuse all "plots" and government would "strongly" provide security.

As Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review went to press Thursday afternoon, there was no overt sign of stepped-up security in the Tehran squares where activists urged supporters to rally. But authorities appeared to have taken a number of other steps to prevent participation. SMS mobile phone messaging was down Thursday for a third straight day. The government also closed down universities and called a government holiday on Tuesday and Wednesday, citing heavy dust.