Iranian Police Clash with Protesters
By VOA News
20 June 2009
Supporters of defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi shout slogans as they face riot police during demonstration in Tehran, 20 Jun 2009
Witnesses in Iran＇s capital Tehran say police used tear gas, batons and water cannons on Saturday in an effort to disperse thousands of protesters.
State television confirmed some incidents, saying police clashed with what it called "rioters" who were trying to stage illegal protests against presidential election results.
Defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi issued a statement late Saturday to Iran＇s top legislative body, repeating his call for the election＇s annulment. He did not comment on the protests.
The country＇s Security Council had told Mr. Mousavi that he will be responsible for "consequences of illegal rallies."
Iran has severely restricted independent media coverage, but witnesses speaking to VOA＇s Persian News Network and other news agencies say thousands of residents were in the streets Saturday. Witnesses also reported a heavy police presence, particularly around two Tehran squares where previous protests were held.
Also Saturday, Iranian state media reported that a suicide bomber exploded near a shrine to the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the country＇s Islamic revolution, killing the attacker and wounding at least three people.
Meanwhile, a Facebook page attributed to Mr. Mousavi said he is "ready for matyrdom." The statement on the page called for a national strike if he is arrested. It has not been independently verified whether the online account is in fact Mr. Mousavi＇s, but previous calls to protest have appeared there for his supporters.
On Friday, Iran＇s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for an end to nearly a week of massive street protests by opposition supporters who claim the June 12th presidential vote was rigged.
Iran＇s Council of Guardians, a powerful body that supervises the elections, convened a meeting Saturday to discuss defeated candidates＇ concerns. The Council invited Mr. Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and Mohsen Rezaei, but state media reported that only Rezaei attended.
State television said the council agreed to randomly recount 10-percent of the ballots in the presence of the candidates＇ representatives.
Protests involving hundreds of thousands of people at times have turned violent. Iran has confirmed at least seven protesters were killed Monday during clashes with pro-government militia. Amnesty International says it has recorded at least 10 killings.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
|
|
