While Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s inauguration ceremony was taking place inside the Majlis, people in Tehran were shouting in streets surrounding Baharestan Square – where Majlis building is located – “dwarf, come out” and “death to dictator,” in their 53rd day of protests against the election coup.

Simultaneous with the inauguration ceremony in the Majlis building, and while Baharestan Street was in complete control of the military, clashes took place between the public and security forces in surrounding streets and other parts of the capital.  Security and Basiji forces had occupied the Baharestan Square and surrounding streets from 7 am.  Nevertheless, for several hours after security forces continued to be deployed from garrisons and other military locations on buses, vans and Toyota Land Cruisers.

Four kinds of forces were present: regular police, riot police dressed in special gear, Basijis in military clothes and plain-clothed militiamen.

The number of plain-clothed militiamen who did most of the shouting and ordering was about 100, but officers and Basijis were countless, filling all of Baharestan Square and Mojahedin Eslam, Baharestan, Jomhouri and surrounding streets, bringing traffic to a halt to prevent people from entering the area.

Several Chinese vans named Delica, which have recently been imported and are used by the police, were also parked around the Majlis to transport potential detainees to the facility that has replaced Kahrizak.  The vans can hold up to 11 passengers and a driver.

Cell phones lines were shut down at Baharestan Square and surrounding streets.  Officers had also barred shopkeepers and businesses around Baharestan Square from opening their doors before noon.

Tehran’s subway system was ordered by the Tehran Province Security Council to shut down stations near Baharestan Square, preventing protesters from reaching the area.

But while the area surrounding Baharestan Square was in complete control of the military, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad entered the Majlis area at around 9 am in a Red Crescent helicopter.  A lawmaker from the minority reformist faction in the Majlis reported this.  Half an hour after the helicopter’s landing people realized that the ceremony has begun and that Ahmadinejad is inside the Majlis building.

Meanwhile, security forces were attempting to disperse people, but people continued to gather and chant, “death to dictator,” and “dwarf, come out.”

Large numbers of officers were stationed on the rooftops of the Majlis and surrounding buildings.  They were wearing black jackets and special glasses.  They also carried guns that were much longer and thinner than the usual police and Revolutionary Guards weapons, such as Kalashnikovs, MP4’s and J3’s.  They seemed to be sharp-shooters carrying special weapons and glasses.

Other Parts of the City

In addition to the gathering in front of the Majlis, scattered protests also took place yesterday at Vanak Square, Vali-Asr Avenue and Motahari Street.  Large numbers of security forces were present in all gatherings.  At Vanak Square, where several thousand protesters had gathered, security forces were so numerous that they had occupied both sides of Vali-Asr Avenue and the sidewalks by 7 pm.

Several thousand forces were also stationed at Motahari Street, far outnumbering the protesters.  People were seemingly just passing through, but seized every opportunity to chant “death to dictator” and “Allah Akbar.”

The presence of security forces around government offices at Vanak Square was also impressive.  Hundreds of officers were stationed at the Parkvey intersection, in front of the state radio and television building, to guard against a possible attack.