News

In the absence of unfettered reporting, it's hard to get an accurate picture of the scale of the opposition turnout in the Jerusalem Day marches, and the seriousness of the ensuing clashes and incidents.

But the impression is that the event did not see the re-ignition of the opposition cause and the launching of a dynamic new phase in its career, over two months after it was last able to make a show of strength on the streets.

Reformist opponents of the controversially re-elected President Ahmadinejad seem to have been massively outnumbered by system loyalists eager to demonstrate their support for the president and his patron, the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Initial reports of skirmishes, beatings and arrests did not speak of massive confrontations but minor incidents involving small numbers of people.