IRAN: Tens of thousands of Iranians turned out to mark the 23rd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution yesterday in a show of defiance against US charges that Iran formed part of an "axis of evil".
President Bush's accusation two weeks ago has strengthened the hardliners who are vehemently opposed to efforts by reformists around President Khatami to improve ties with Washington.
"Death to America," shouted the demonstrators, repeating the ritual chant of the revolution which toppled the US-backed Shah and ushered in the Islamic Republic. Speculation is rife in Iran that the US may soon strike Iranian targets, and attendance at the rally was up on previous years.
The Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had called for the demonstration to be a "slap in the face for Iran's enemies".
"The reason that we are under threat is that the United States, or some of its leaders, think they are masters of the world and they want the world to obey their policies," President Khatami told the sea of people in Tehran's Freedom Square. An effigy of Bush was held aloft with a sign reading "I made a mistake in threatening Iran" and an Uncle Sam puppet was burnt.