United Liberty

Protesters continue to press on inside Iran as the government has become increasingly violent in response:

Thousands of protesters defied Iran’s highest authority Saturday and marched on waiting security forces that fought back with baton charges, tear gas and water cannons as the crisis over disputed elections lurched into volatile new ground.

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Some bloggers and Twitter users claimed that there had been numerous fatalities in Saturday’s unrest, reports that could not be immediately verified.

The clashes along one of Tehran’s main avenues — as described by witnesses — had far fewer demonstrators than recent mass rallies for Mousavi. But they marked another blow to authorities who sought to intimidate protesters with harsh warnings and lines of black-clad police three deep in places.

The rallies also left questions about Mousavi’s ability to hold together his protest movement, which claims that widespread fraud in June 12 elections robbed Mousavi of victory and kept hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in office.

Mir Hossein Mousavi, the opposition leader, has asked his supporters to go on strike if he is arrested. He has also said he is ready to become a martyr.

The response from the United States has become more stern as President Barack Obama called on Iranian leaders to “to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people.” Meanwhile, Republicans want President Obama to up the rhetoric, which Obama maintains would just worsen the situation for the opposition.

Earlier today, I watched a gruesome video of a female protester die on a street in Tehran. It brought me to tears. These people are fighting for something many of us take for granted. Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do but hope for the best.

These people are fighting for something many of us take for granted. There isn’t much we can do but hope for the best.

If you’re looking for continuing coverage, please drop by Andrew Sullivan’s blog.