AFP: Thousands of Iranians took to the streets on Saturday in defiance of an ultimatum from supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for an end to protests over last week's disputed presidential election.

AP: Witnesses said police beat protesters and fired tear gas and water cannons at thousands who rallied in Tehran Saturday in open defiance of Iran's clerical government, sharply escalating the most serious internal conflict since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Reuters: Iranian police will deal firmly with any illegal gatherings from now on, a senior commander was quoted as saying, ahead of a planned protest in Tehran on Saturday against last week's disputed presidential election.

Reuters: Iranian riot police were deployed in full force in central Tehran on Saturday, blocking off an area where supporters of defeated election candidates had planned a protest rally around 4 p.m (1130 GMT), a witness said.

AFP: US President Barack Obama has warned Iran that the "world is watching" its actions, and said the United States stood with those seeking "peaceful" justice in the post-election tumult.

AFP: One of the organisers of a mass rally in Tehran backed down on Saturday after authorities threatened a harsh response, but it was unclear if people would stay away as riot police were deploying onto the streets.

AP: In the strongest message yet from the U.S. government, the House voted 405-1 Friday to condemn Tehran's crackdown on demonstrators and the government's interference with Internet and cell phone communications.

AFP: The White House on Friday denied there are any differences between US President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden on how to react to the protests over the presidential election results in Iran.

AP: The BBC is using two extra satellites to broadcast its Farsi-language service after days of jamming it blamed on Iran.