Tehran - Police used teargas to disperse hundreds of
protestors who tried Thursday to gather near Tehran University,
sources within student circles said. Witnesses said there were
arrests.
The renewed demonstrations had been called to mark the 10th
anniversary of the 1999 student unrest. The protestors were initially
dispersed but regrouped, shouting 'Death to Dictator.'
A large member of police and anti-riot forces were deployed in all
streets leading to the university and nearby Revolution Square in the
centre of the capital. They prevented people from congregating, even
in small groups, a witness said.
Pedestrians were urged by police using loudspeakers to leave the
area and were warned they would be beaten with batons if they did not
comply, the witnesses said.
Shots were fired into the air in the university area and other
parts of central Tehran, witnesses said.
Several protestors were arrested and driven away near the Tehran
univertsity, they added.
According to other witnesses, police numbers were increased and
joined by the pro-Ahmadinejad Basij militia on the streets south of
the university and Revolution Square.
Most shops in central Tehran were forced to close because of fears
of clashes between police and demonstrators, the witnesses said.
The Tehran governor's office had earlier warned that any protest
demonstration or gathering would be decisively confronted as the
Interior Ministry had not given permission for such meetings.
Iran's opposition groups had planned Thursday to begin a new form
of protest demonstration which was supposed to provoke neither police
nor supporters of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
In internet messages, opposition supporters - mainly those backing
opposition leader Mir-Hossein Moussavi - said they intended to hold
silent protests throughout the country on the 10th anniversary of the
student protests.
They wanted to gather at various points to make it difficult for
both police and the Basij militia to trace them.
Protest organizers called on the people to just silently walk in
several districts, make no slogans, not wear anything green which
would symbolize their support for Moussavi, and just from time to
time show the 'V for victory' sign.
Moussavi has several times said that his supporters should
continue their protests over alleged election fraud but not violate
legal boundaries, in order to prevent further casualties.
According to official statistics, 20 demonstrators and eight pro-
Ahmadinejad militia have been killed since the protests which started
following the June 12 presidential election.
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