Iranian authorities demand halt to protests

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian hardline authorities ordered their opponents on Thursday to cease anti-government protests and denied an opposition website report that troops were heading for Tehran ahead of a planned opposition rally.

The authorities have signaled they will tolerate no more protests after eight people were killed in fiery demonstrations on Sunday during the Shi’ite ritual of Ashura. A nephew of opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi was killed the same day.

State television showed a group of pro-government demonstrators wearing white shrouds and carrying placards that read: “We are ready to sacrifice our lives for the leader” — referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Jaras opposition website said troops and armored vehicles were moving toward Tehran and that security forces had deployed in several city squares to foil the opposition rally. Read more at www.washingtonpost.com