Iranians step up deadly protests

IRAN'S supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei yesterday insisted that the Islamic republic would "not back down" in the face of protests after the biggest rallies yet in an almost two week movement sparked by anger over the rising cost of living.

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IRANIAN military academy students listen to Iran's army chief Amir Hatami speak in Tehran. Hatami has warned that Iran will not be threatened by outside powers, after the US and Israel backed anti-government protests. TOP LEFT: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei BOTTOM LEFT: A screen grab from social media shows protesters clashing with Iranian security forces at the Tehran bazaar this week.

(AFP)

Chanting slogans including "death to the dictator" and setting fire to official buildings, crowds of people opposed to the clerical establishment marched through major cities late on Thursday.

Internet monitor Netblocks said authorities had imposed a total connectivity blackout on Thursday and added yesterday that the country had "now been offline for 12 hours ... in an attempt to suppress sweeping protests".

The demonstrations represent one of the biggest challenges yet to the Islamic republic in its over four-and-a half decades of existence, with protesters openly calling for an end to its theocratic rule.