Iran protesters denounce Israel

Many of the marchers were hardliners

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets of the capital, Tehran, to mark Jerusalem Day and show their solidarity with the Palestinians.

Vast columns of people from all walks of life converged on Tehran university, the traditional location for Friday prayers, to protest against the Israeli occupation of Jerusalem.

The marchers denounced Israel and the US

Marchers waved banners and effigies of Israeli and US leaders, and chanted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" slogans.

But there was no violence - the demonstration was fully supported and indeed encouraged by the authorities.

Correspondents says the march was a rare show of cohesiveness in a country wracked by political tensions between reformist and conservative factions.

Backing the Palestinians

The plight of the Palestinians is an issue on which Iranians across the board are in broad agreement, despite their sharp differences at home.

Many of those who took part said they were united in support of the Palestinians because of concern for Jerusalem - one of the holy places of Islam.

The death sentence passed on Mr Aghajari has ignited tensions

The BBC correspondent in Tehran says many of the demonstrators seemed to feel genuine anger at the suffering of the Palestinians, for which they blame the Americans as much as Israel itself.

Jerusalem Day is marked on the last Friday of Islam's holiest month of Ramadan.

Friday is also the 55th anniversary of the United Nations resolution which led to the partition of Palestine and the creation of the state of Israel.

Iran does not recognise the Jewish state, and has often expressed its support for Palestinian resistance groups.

Hardline militia

Despite the common cause, Friday's march - like most big government-sanctioned demonstrations in Iran - also had some hardline overtones, our correspondent says.

Many of the marchers were anti-reformist Basiji militia, loudly proclaiming their loyalty to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

Both reformists and conservatives have held almost daily demonstrations in recent weeks, sparked by a death sentence imposed on the reformist academic Hashem Aghajari.

The two sides are frequently at loggerheads.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei often sides with the conservatives, while President Mohammed Khatami is a reformist.

Mr Khamenei warned recently that if Iran's feuding politicians could not shelve their differences and tackle the country's problems, the forces of the people might have to intervene.