Iranians mark revolution

Tens of thousands of Iranians rallied Monday (FEB. 11, 2008) to mark the 29th anniversary of the Islamic revolution. Almost three decades after the revolution, women in head-to-toe black chador and men shouted "Death to America," the ritual chant of the 1979 revolution which toppled the U.S.-backed Shah and swept the Shiite Muslim clergy to power.

"With this rally, Western countries will understand that they cannot impose their will on us and they see that we back our leader and government," Ali Salmani, 17, told Reuters in Tehran.

"America should understand and believe that the Iranian nation will not back down from its rights," said another demonstrator, Leila Jafari.

Others at the rally burnt effigies representing Uncle Sam.

Iran and the United States have not had diplomatic ties since shortly after the revolution, when hardline students seized the U.S. embassy and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.

Iranian officials had called on people to turn out in large numbers to show their unity in the face of Western pressure. State television broadcast live footage of major rallies held in other cities.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addressed the rally in Tehran, one week after Iran sparked international concern by test-launching a rocket designed to carry its first domestically made research satellite into orbit.

"God willing, next summer the first 100 percent Iranian-made satellite will be positioned in orbit," he said. The technology used to put satellites into space could also be used for launching weapons across continents.