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BBC: Iranian police opened fire on protesters
27.12.2009 16:01 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Opposition sources say Iranian security forces have
opened fire on protesters as some of the fiercest clashes in months
erupted in the capital, Tehran.
Unconfirmed reports said at least one person was shot dead but the
police denied there had been any fatalities. Opposition parties had
urged people to take to the streets as the Shia Muslim festival of
Ashura reached a climax. People were chanting "Khamenei will be
toppled", opposition sources said, a reference to Iran's Supreme
Leader. Thousands of demonstrators are reported to have taken part in
the protests, in defiance of official warnings.
Initial reports said the security forces fired in the air to disperse
the protests, but several different reports said that at least one,
and possibly as many as four demonstrators, had been shot dead.
Police sources, quoted by the Iranian Fars news agency, denied this,
saying foreign media were exaggerating reports of unrest.
Although there were deaths in the immediate aftermath of the disputed
elections and protests in June, fatalities since then have been rare.
The security forces clearly have to tread a fine line between not
appearing weak but also not provoking opposition protesters. Police
helicopters were seen flying over central Tehran as clouds of black
smoke billowed into the sky, reports said. On the ground, the security
forces clashed with protesters trying to reach central Enghelab
Square, witnesses said.
Protesters were chanting, "This is the month of blood", and calling
for the downfall of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,
according to opposition websites. At the same time, crowds of
pro-government demonstrators marched on Enghelab Street to voice
support for Ayatollah Khamenei, witnesses said. Protests were also
reported in the cities of Isfahan and Najafabad.
Tensions have risen in Iran since influential dissident cleric Grand
Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri died a week ago aged 87
Supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi have sought to use
Shia religious festivals this weekend to show continued defiance of
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government. Denied the right to
protest, the opposition chose the highly significant festival of
Ashura when millions of Iranians traditionally go onto the streets for
ceremonies and parades. The festival mourns the 7th Century death of
Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Iranian television
had live coverage of the Ashura ceremonies, including those in Tehran
attended by President Ahmadinejad, BBC reported.
27.12.2009 16:01 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Opposition sources say Iranian security forces have
opened fire on protesters as some of the fiercest clashes in months
erupted in the capital, Tehran.
Unconfirmed reports said at least one person was shot dead but the
police denied there had been any fatalities. Opposition parties had
urged people to take to the streets as the Shia Muslim festival of
Ashura reached a climax. People were chanting "Khamenei will be
toppled", opposition sources said, a reference to Iran's Supreme
Leader. Thousands of demonstrators are reported to have taken part in
the protests, in defiance of official warnings.
Initial reports said the security forces fired in the air to disperse
the protests, but several different reports said that at least one,
and possibly as many as four demonstrators, had been shot dead.
Police sources, quoted by the Iranian Fars news agency, denied this,
saying foreign media were exaggerating reports of unrest.
Although there were deaths in the immediate aftermath of the disputed
elections and protests in June, fatalities since then have been rare.
The security forces clearly have to tread a fine line between not
appearing weak but also not provoking opposition protesters. Police
helicopters were seen flying over central Tehran as clouds of black
smoke billowed into the sky, reports said. On the ground, the security
forces clashed with protesters trying to reach central Enghelab
Square, witnesses said.
Protesters were chanting, "This is the month of blood", and calling
for the downfall of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,
according to opposition websites. At the same time, crowds of
pro-government demonstrators marched on Enghelab Street to voice
support for Ayatollah Khamenei, witnesses said. Protests were also
reported in the cities of Isfahan and Najafabad.
Tensions have risen in Iran since influential dissident cleric Grand
Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri died a week ago aged 87
Supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi have sought to use
Shia religious festivals this weekend to show continued defiance of
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government. Denied the right to
protest, the opposition chose the highly significant festival of
Ashura when millions of Iranians traditionally go onto the streets for
ceremonies and parades. The festival mourns the 7th Century death of
Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Iranian television
had live coverage of the Ashura ceremonies, including those in Tehran
attended by President Ahmadinejad, BBC reported.