Iran's hardliners rally against reformers

Police tried to stop students from holding another rally

About 3,000 Basijis, members of Iran's hardline militia, have demonstrated at Tehran University against pro-reform students who want freedom of speech.

The Basijis: 'We will not remain silent'

A few hundred metres away police were trying to prevent thousands of students from another campus in the capital from holding another rally.

Protests recently staged by pro-reform students against the death sentence passed down to liberal academic Hashem Aghajari for blasphemy have been the biggest in Iran for three years.

They took place amid heightened political tension as moderate President Mohammad Khatami prepares to confront conservatives forces opposed to his reform efforts.

Hardliners say the students have insulted Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who controls the judiciary.

"We are ready, we don't have tolerance any more," said one Basij leader addressing the meeting at Tehran University.

"Our red lines are the Leader and our Islamic values. We will not remain silent," he said.

"Passing those red lines has a heavy price."

'Popular force'

Students have continued their protests despite Ayatollah Khamenei's intervention on Sunday, when he ordered a review into the judiciary's ruling on Mr Aghajari.

	CONSERVATIVES: Leader: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Power: The real power in Iran. Controls the hard-line Guardians Council, which approves all laws, the judiciary and armed forces Where they stand: Committed to Islamic revolution. Opposed to any reduction in their powers and normalisation of relations with the US REFORMISTS: Leader: President Mohammed Khatami Power: Control the parliament and enjoy widespread popular support Where they stand: Back greater democracy, reducing the power of the Guardians Council, and reform to the legal system Iran: Who holds the power?

Unlike Monday, when the protests ended in clashes with police, Tuesday's demonstrations ended without major incident.

But correspondents say that the show of street force between the rival political camps in Iran could still reach new levels.

According to the press reports, the head of Basijis, General Seyed Mohammad Hejazi said he plans to call more than five million members of the militia onto the streets on 29 November, to mark the "occupation" of Jerusalem.

Ayatollah Khamenei meanwhile warned that he would resort to "popular forces" if the political crisis deepens.

The term "popular forces" is generally interpreted as a reference to the hardline militia.