Iranians in Atlanta Protest Violence

ATLANTA (AP) - About 300 demonstrators, mostly Iranians living in the U.S., gathered outside the CNN Center on Saturday to protest against violence stemming from disputed elections in Iran and call for democracy.

Carrying signs declaring "Stop the Violence," "Stop Police Brutality in Tehran," and "No More Murders," the demonstrators chanted slogans and cheered wildly every time a passing car honked its horn in sympathy.

Organizers said they were not supporting any candidate or political party in the Iranian election.

"We are here to condemn the violence," said a man gathering signatures on a petition. He would identify himself only as Arash, and said he was a 26-year-old graduate student at Georgia Tech.

Earlier Saturday, thousands of protesters defied Iran's highest authority and marched on waiting security forces that fought back with baton charges, tear gas and water cannons. A state-run television channel reported a suicide bombing at the shrine of the Islamic Revolution leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini killed at least two people and wounded eight.

The Atlanta demonstrators were mostly dressed in Western clothing, although a few women wore traditional Islamic dress. Many wore green T-shirts, arm bands or ribbons to signify their solidarity with demonstrators in Iran protesting against the re-election one week ago of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Many supporters of his chief opponent, Mir Hossein Mousavi, say the election was rigged.

Dozens of the Atlanta demonstrators also carried placards saying "Where is My Vote" and "Free Iran."

In a news release announcing the Atlanta rally, Peter Tadeo, a law student at Georgia State University, said "demonstrations in Iran over the presidential elections have shown the potential for a fully democratic Iran."

"Not only Iranians around the world, but many Westerners as well, have seen the blatant corruption in the so-called elections," he said.