*Iran Standard Time (IRST), GMT+3:30*

*3:15 p.m.* It's now 15 minutes after the scheduled start of the Tehran
march. @madyar tweets, "Large group of people moving from Ferdowsi Square
toward Enghelab Square. Security forces are also in control of the
University and many of them are stationed outside its entrances."

Several sources are reporting that many metro stations in central Tehran are
being closed off so protesters cannot make it into the area.

Human Rights House of Iran reports <http://www.rahana.org/en/?p=9785> that
Ali Bagheri, a member of the Central Council of the Islamic Revolution
Mojahedin Organization, has been arrested.

One of the first videos claimed to have been shot today in Tehran to reach
the web:


  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYV-7Y5hjOE&feature=player_embedded  Clashes
mark Bahrain 'Day of Rage'
Minor clashes reported from parts of kingdom as security forces remain on
alert over planned day of protests.
 Last Modified: 14 Feb 2011 09:53 GMT
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    *Activists are demanding reforms, better human rights and stopping of
discrimination against Shias [Sara Hassan]***

Small-scale clashes have been reported from parts of Bahrain amid heightened
security over planned protests by the kingdom's disgruntled Shia majority.

Protesters have called for a "Day of Rage" to be observed on Monday,
inspired by anti-government uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.

Helicopters circled over the capital Manama, where protesters were expected
to gather in the afternoon, and there was greater police presence in Shia
villages.

At least 14 people were injured in clashes overnight and on Monday, news
agencies reported.

The reports said police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse
marchers in the mostly Shia village of Newidrat in the southwest region of
the island kingdom - a key Western ally. The marchers were demanding the
release of those detained during earlier protests.

Nabeel Rajab of the Bahrain Centre for human rights told Al Jazeera: "We are
only asking for political reforms, right of political participation, respect
for human rights, stopping of systematic discrimination against Shias.

"All the demands are to do with human rights and nothing to do with the
ruling family and their regime."

However, he warned that if the government resorted to violence then the
people might be forced to even demand for a regime change.

"We call on all Bahraini people - men, women, boys and girls - to share in
our rallies in a peaceful and civilised way to guarantee a stable and
promising future for ourselves and our children," activists said in a
statement issued on Twitter.

*Marginalised Shias*

The Bahraini ruling family had offered cash
payouts<http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/201121251854857192.html>in
the run-up to the protest to prevent Shia discontent from bubbling
over
as popular revolts spread in the Arab world.

Diplomats say Bahrain's demonstrations, organised on the social media
websites Facebook and Twitter, will be a gauge of whether a larger base of
Shias can be drawn on to the streets. The big test will be if demonstrations
take hold in Manama, where demonstrations are rare.

Shias account for 70 per cent of the population but they allege
discrimination at the hands of Bahrain’s Sunni rulers.

Big protests in the Gulf Arab island state could embolden other marginalised
Shias in nearby Saudi Arabia, political analysts say.

There was no immediate comment from Bahraini authorities.

Police clashed late on
Sunday<http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/2011213185556388117.html>with
residents in Karzakan village, where security forces regularly
skirmish
with Shia youths, and one protester was injured, witnesses said. Police said
three officers were hurt.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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