Supporters of the People's Mojahedin Organisation, Iran's main opposition, rally outside the Iranian regime's embassy in London, in solidarity with Iranian people's protests nationwide. Victoria Jones / AP
Supporters of the People's Mojahedin Organisation, Iran's main opposition, rally outside the Iranian regime's embassy in London, in solidarity with Iranian people's protests nationwide. Victoria JonesShow more

Iran regime opponents rally across Europe



The Iranian protests have spilled beyond the borders as hundreds demonstrate in front of the Islamic republic's embassy's across Europe.

Iranian regime opponents held small-scale demonstrations Saturday in the UK, Austria, France and Germany to show support for opposition groups who have held rallies inside their country in recent days.

Some 40 people demonstrated near the Iranian embassy in Paris to call for an end to Tehran's "interference" in Syria and Lebanon, which Afchine Alavi, from the National Council of Iranian Resistance said.

In Berlin, around 100 regime opponents gathered near the Iranian embassy to demand the immediate release of people arrested during three days of protests.

Around 50 people had rallied at the same venue on Friday.

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Read more: Why we shouldn’t jump to conclusions about what is happening in Iran

Listen to beyond the headlines podcast: Iran’s long history of protests and civil unrest

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The rallies began in Iran's second city of Mashhad on Thursday as an attack on high living costs but quickly turned against the Islamic regime as a whole.

Although the demonstrations inside Iran remain on a small scale they are nonetheless the first of note since Tehran quelled a much wider protest movement in 2009.

The government has warned against "illegal gatherings" while there have also been several counter-demonstrations over the past three days.

On Wednesday,  Iranian state media began airing footage of pro-government demonstrations in cities across the country after a week of protests and unrest over the country's poor economy.

The English-language broadcaster PressTV broadcast the rallies live on Wednesday, saying they were to "protest the violence that has taken place over the last few nights in cities."

Demonstrators waved Iranians flags and signs supporting Iran's clerically overseen government.

The rallies come after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday blamed days of protests across the country on meddling by "enemies of Iran." State TV reported on Tuesday that the latest clashes between protesters and security forces have killed nine more people.

The demonstrations are the largest seen in Iran since its disputed 2009 presidential election. At least 21 people have been killed.

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Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae