8 Basij killed as definance of crackdown continues

BBC:

Iran protest leader Mir Hossein Mousavi says he holds those behind alleged "rigged" elections responsible for bloodshed during recent protests.

In a defiant statement on his website, he called for future protests to be in a way which would not "create tension."

He complained of "complete" restrictions on his access to people and a crackdown on his media group.

A BBC correspondent in Tehran says the statement is a direct challenge to Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

In another development on Thursday, Iranian state media said that eight members of the pro-government Basij militia had been killed and dozens more wounded in the protests.

The eight deaths were in addition to 17 other people whose deaths have already been announced, English language Press TV said.

The reports cannot be verified due to severe reporting restrictions inside Iran.

...

The deaths of the Basij vigilantes is testament to the fierceness of the resistance. The street battles have shown the dangers of attacks against large crowds. However, the government has the guns and can mass against crowds in some key locations. That is why the opposition is going for more disbursed gatherings which will make it harder for the government to concentrate its forces against them.