DATE=12/6/1999 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=IRAN STUDENTS / POLICE TRIALS (L-ONLY) NUMBER=2-256889 BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB DATELINE=CAIRO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A military tribunal in Iran says 20-policemen, including the former police chief of Tehran, are to be tried publicly for raiding a student dormitory during six-days of unrest last July. Correspondent Scott Bobb reports from our Middle East Bureau in Cairo that a total of 50 policemen have been accused of irregularities in the incident, although some of them have been released on bail. TEXT: The Iranian News Agency says the 20 policemen are to appear before a public session of the Tehran military court once the investigation by the court's military prosecutor has been completed. The agency quotes the Judicial Organization of the Armed Forces as saying the policemen are accused of illegally entering the student dormitory of Tehran University last July and of beating students and damaging their property. The statement says the policemen disobeyed orders from Iran's Interior Minister and armed forces chief to refrain from entering the dormitory. It said there were civilians who also entered the dormitory and participated in the violence and they will be tried in general courts. The statement said 400 complaints were lodged by students, including 16 complaints of physical injury. It said an investigation is underway into the shooting death of one individual in the incident. Student leaders and human rights groups say as many as 200-students were wounded in the attack, which they say followed a peaceful march to press for more democratic freedoms. Iranian observers say the demonstrations, which followed the closure of a pro-reform newspaper, were the largest since the Iranian revolution and shifted public opinion against some of the tactics of conservatives who control the legislature and security forces. Competition between conservative and reformist factions of the Iranian clergy has intensified in recent months in anticipation of parliamentary elections due in February. The Interior Ministry announced Sunday that candidates for the elections have one-week to register, beginning next Saturday. They are to be screened by a special committee of religious leaders. (SIGNED) NEB/SB/GE/LTD/RAE 06-Dec-1999 12:22 PM EDT (06-Dec-1999 1722 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
