Police were ready to control the large crowds that attempted to protest the Iranian
president's speech in Tehran. (Creative Commons)

Security forces in Iran cracked down on anti-government protesters
to minimize the appearance of opposition during Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria">President 16.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:
Times">Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech on Thursday commemorating the 31st
anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

Tens of thousands of government supporters filled Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">Tehran's Azadi Square to hear the speech.

Several groups of anti-government protestors attended, but
massive government security presence as well as Basij militias managed to break
up any significant opposition.

Government security attacked the vehicles carrying opposition
leaders Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Mehdi
Karrubi, a past candidate for the controversial presidential elections in June, and
Mohammad Khatami, former Iranian president.

Not all anti-government protestors were controlled. Video of
demonstrators stomping on pictures of the country's supreme leader Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, setting fire to a
Basij motorcycle and chanting anti-government slogans is available on opposition
Web sites, according to the New York Times.

This year's disruption is minimal compared to the
overwhelming presence of opposition forces at past holiday events.

The disappearance of opposition among throngs of supporters
is due to increased government security before and during the rally.

It was reportedly difficult to distinguish between supporters and
protesters, since many protesters were reluctant to take out their signs and
became mixed with the crowd.

Cambria">" Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">I felt very
frustrated. Did we go to the protest to increase the number of the
pro-government people? mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria">" a student said in an interview with CNN mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria">.

Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">Ahmadinejad's
speech focused on the power of Iran Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Times">, and included unhappiness with the West's
interference with the Middle East as well as references to nuclear power.

Cambria">The president said that the country has the means to create a nuclear
bomb Cambria"> and that if the state of Iran mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:
Georgia">"wants to build a bomb it will clearly announce it and build it and
not be afraid" of Western powers.

Cambria">Iran has enriched uranium Cambria"> up to 20 percent, and has the ability to enrich
it up to 80 percent, but has no plans to do so "because we don't need it," Ahmadinejad said.