Tensions Rise in Iran

On the weekend of Shia religious festivals, Iranian activists are rising up to show their continued opposition to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Spontaneous protests erupted across the country last week with the news of the death of one of the country's most prominent dissident clerics, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri. Since then, the protests have continued and escalated. Iranian officials have warned that they will crack down on protesters, and the BBC reports that clashes between the government and reformists have grown increasingly violent. Shots have been fired to disperse crowds, and security forces have reportedly beaten protesters with batons. The main protest is scheduled to occur Sunday.