Iran hard-liners rally as new protests over economy challenge government

Iranian hard-liners rallied today in support of the country's supreme leader and clerically overseen government as spontaneous protests sparked by anger over the ailing economy hit major cities in the Islamic Republic.

The demonstrations, commemorating a mass 2009 pro-government rally challenging those who rejected the re-election of hard-line president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad amid fraud allegations, had been scheduled weeks earlier.