As President Barack Obama praises the courage of Iranians who are rising up against their government, the latest protests are being met once again by a brutal response from the Iranian police.

The violence in the streets is reminiscent of the demonstration against the Iran's contested election months ago.

In the latest round of demonstrations, at least eight protestors have already been killed.

On Monday, Iranian authorities announced they were holding the bodies of five slain demonstrators. The move was intended to stop activists from using funerals as a platform for more demonstrations, the Associated Press reported.

News Coverage Banned

News crews were banned from covering the event, so video was taken by demonstrators and posted on YouTube.

Police brutalized protestors on Sunday, a Muslim holiday when violence is forbidden. One protester likened it to crucifying Christians on Christmas.

But the rioters lashed back. All across the country people of various ages and religions have been demonstrating against the government.

At one point police found themselves cornered and begged protestors for forgiveness. Elsewhere police gave up and actually joined the rioters.

Iranian Official Rebukes Obama

Meanwhile, the Islamic parliament is demanding the protestors be arrested face the harshest sentence possible.

Ali Larijani, Iran's parliament speaker, also condemned Obama's support for the protestors saying, "Mr. Obama, we declare that your admiration for this group will both ruin your reputation and will also reveal just who this anti-religion group is linked to."

"It will fall on the shoulders of the ruling system to confront them more firmly," he said.

Meanwhile, Obama says the world is not losing sight of Tehran's refusal to halt its nuclear program. The president warned 2010 will bring new, tougher sanctions against Iran's regime.