Political protests in Tehran lead to violent clashes (Roundup)

Mar 1, 2011, 19:08 GMT

Tehran/Berlin - Political protests resumed Tuesday in several parts of Tehran, leading to violent clashes between police and protesters, according to opposition websites.

The opposition termed the violence used by the police on Tuesday as 'unprecedented.'

Thousands of people gathered in several parts of Tehran to protest the alleged imprisonment of two main opposition leaders - Mir Hossein Moussavi and Mehdi Karroubi, and their wives, Zahra Ranhavard and Fatemeh Karroubi - in the Heshmatieh military prison in eastern Tehran.

Witnesses say that there have been clashes between protesters and police and anti-riot forces near Tehran university, in central Tehran, forcing police to use tear gas to disperse the crowd.

According to the reports, police and anti-riot police have been deployed in several Tehran districts, especially in the Seyed Khandan district, where the Heshmatieh military prison is located.

The protesters are reportedly shouting slogans in favour of Moussavi and Karroubi. They are also yelling the slogans Allah'o Akbar (God is Great), and Death to the Dictator.

Opposition websites reported that, after the number of protesters had increased - especially in Seyed Kahndan and near Tehran University - police, security and anti-riot forces had started to beat them with electric batons.

Some reports even stated that shots were heard in several districts. There was no news available on possible casualties.

The opposition websites further reported that protests were also held in several other Iranian cities, including the religious city of Mashad.

Witnesses say that dozens of demonstrators in Tehran were arrested by police. Also, in Mashad, at least 10 people were reportedly arrested.

Some students in Tehran have boycotted their classes in favour of attending the protests, added the reports. However, there was no official confirmation for that.

Opposition websites had on Monday reported the prison transfers. Moussavi and Karroubi had been under house arrest for nearly two weeks.

State media quoted the state prosecutor general as rejecting the reports. The office said the Moussavi and Karroubi were only under house arrest.

But the families of the two leaders insisted that the two were not at home and definitely in the Heshmatieh prison. They said that, if the two were not jailed, then the official should allow them to visit the two wherever they were being kept.

Foreign media has once again been prohibited from directly covering the unrest, making it impossible to verify the reports from opposition sites.

The moderate clergy group MRM, which is led by former president Mohammad Khatami, called in a statement for the immediate release of Moussavi and Karroubi.

The MRM used to be one of the most influential political groups following the 1979 Islamic revolution, but was de facto pushed into opposition after the disputed June 2009 presidential election, which was overshadowed by allegations of fraud. That poll eventually led to the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Referring to the aggression toward the opposition, the MRM called on the establishment to stop 'measures which are both illegal and against Islamic norms.'

Iran earlier Tuesday said issues related to its opposition were internal affairs and the West had no right to interfere.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast made the comments after Western governments protested the transfers.

Mehmanparast called on the West 'to listen to the voice of the majority, rather than a few of them.'

'These are internal affairs and no country has and will have any right to interfere in the decisions by the judiciary,' Mehmanparast said.

The German and US governments on Monday criticized Iran over the arrest of the two opposition politicians, saying the detentions violate their fundamental human rights.

The Iranian opposition said Monday that its protests would continue until the release of its leaders. More are scheduled for March 15.

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