The Long Uprising

After days of silence and a belief that the struggle had moved from the streets into the clerisy, citizens in Iran returned to protest on the 10th anniversary of the shutting of a reformist newspaper at Tehran University.

Iranian police have fired tear gas at hundreds of demonstrators who defied government warnings that any fresh attempt at protests would be "smashed".

The marchers were heading towards Tehran University to commemorate the 10th anniversary of student unrest.

All gatherings have been banned in a crackdown on mass protests that erupted after the disputed election of 12 June.

The BBC's Jon Leyne says the opposition is trying to put momentum back into the campaign against the vote result.

Our correspondent says there were also a number of smaller demonstrations in major provincial cities.

Nico Pitney has the latest from today, including this truly insane bit of irony:

9:35 AM ET -- Iran criticizes Italy's suppression of protesters. "Iran summons the Italian Ambassador to Tehran Alberto Bradanini in protest against the violent suppression of anti-G8 protesters. Bradanini was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Friday to hear Tehran's concerns about the 'violent suppression of justice-seeking protesters by the Italian police.'" No comment.

The 1979 revolution started in 1978. Iranians have long memories and will simply wait out the ruling regime while chipping away at their legitimacy. This story has only begun.

Meanwhile, the installation of Ali Khamenei's son as head of the militia in Iran just shows the retrenchment of power and the subtle moves into dictatorship. In the end, this will not help Khamenei keep power.