Pro-government supporters take to Iran's streets in counter-protest

Pro-government protests to take Iran streets 01:13
(CNN)Pro-government counter-protesters across Iran marched Wednesday "in solidarity with the regime," according to Iranian state media, in an attempt to neutralize what the country's leaders have identified as "foreign agitators."

"(Wednesday) is the day that the people are denouncing the recent events and the agitators (protestors)," the semi-official Fars news agency reported.
Images on Iranian television channels Wednesday morning local time showed protestors in a variety of locations, waving Iranian flags and holding handwritten signs in support of the government, along with photos of the country's rulers.
Counter-protests are a common reaction to anti-government dissent in Iran

Every time when we have a demonstration or riot there will be a backlash from pro-government institutes," LA Times Tehran correspondent Ramin Moshtagim told CNN.
"The government has its own followers and supporters so (it's) no surprise that they take the opportunity to show support for their government."
The morning rallies are a contrast to the anti-government protests, which start later in the day and gain momentum by nightfall.
So far, at least 21 people in cities and towns across the country have died in the clashes between protesters and government troops that have roiled the country for almost a week. More than 450 people have been arrested by the regime, according to official sources.
Protests took place in at least 10 cities Tuesday night. As the week has worn on, the numbers of both protesters and riot police on the capital's streets have declined, Moshtagim said.
"Since (Tuesday) night the protests in Tehran seemed diminishing in terms of the number of protesters and in terms of the anti-riot police stationed ... in the vicinity" of protests in the capital, he reported.