http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/03/201131155137369204.html
Clashes as Iran protests continue
Witnesses report security forces using teargas against demonstrators gathered
in central Tehran.
Last Modified: 01 Mar 2011 17:08 GMT
Iran will not respond to international questions about the whereabouts of
Mousavi, left, and Karroubi [AFP]
Iran's security forces fired teargas and clashed with opposition supporters in
central Tehran, where demonstrators were rallying to demand the release of two
opposition leaders, according to witnesses and an opposition website.
"Security forces and people in civilian clothes clashed with demonstrators in
Tehran to disperse them," opposition website Kaleme reported about Tuesday's
events.
Kaleme.com said protesters rallied at several points in the capital, chanting
"death to the dictator" and calling on authorities to free Mir Hossein Mousavi
and Mahdi Karroubi.
Former presidential candidates Mousavi and Karoubi have not been seen in public
since they called for a rally on February 14, during which thousands of their
supporters took to the streets to support uprisings in the Arab world.
Family members and opposition activists say the two leaders have moved from
house arrest to a Tehran prison along with their wives. Iranian authorities
deny the reports.
Sahamnews, another opposition website, reported large numbers of security
personnel stationed at main streets and squares in Tehran "to prevent gathering
of opposition supporters."
Domestic affair
Iran has said it will not respond to international questions about the
whereabouts of the opposition leaders.
Tehran considers the matter a "completely domestic" affair, said Ramin
Mehmanparast, the foreign ministry spokesman .
Mehmanparast said any "issues relating to" Mousavi and Karroubi "will be dealt
in the framework of law by judicial authorities".
The semiofficial news agency ISNA quoted prosecutor Gholam Hossein Mohseni
Ejehi as saying that the two men are not in a prison, but the report gave no
further details.
Mousavi and Karroubi's suspected detention comes after the country's former
reformist president, Mohammad Khatami, called on the authorities to release
them.
Karroubi, Mousavi and their wives were under house arrest and living in
complete isolation, their homes under surveillance and cut off from the outside
world, according to their websites.
Calls for protests
The February 14 protests, the first to be held since February last year,
angered the authorities who accused Mousavi and Karroubi of treason, according
to opposition websites.
Mousavi and Karroubi had previously led a string of protests in Iran after
president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's controversial re-election in June 2009, which
they claim was rigged.
Meanwhile, calls continued on social media sites for opposition rallies in
Tehran, where security forces and plainclothes militiamen were deployed in
efforts to stamp out any protest gatherings.
On Tuesday, witnesses said several people were arrested after police fired
teargas on demonstrators in central Tehran.
The atmosphere was reportedly "volatile" in Valiasr Square and street and
Enqelab Street in Tehran, the Iran Students Committe said. "Security forces and
riot police are stationed all along the streets and intersections," the group
said in a statement.
Clashes between protesters and security forces during the recent demonstrations
have killed two and wounded dozens.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
Post message: [email protected]
Subscribe : [email protected]
Unsubscribe : [email protected]
List owner : [email protected]
Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
[email protected]
[email protected]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
