DATE=7/12/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251667
TITLE=IRAN STUDENTS (L/S VER)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE STAGED ANOTHER ROUND OF PRO-REFORM
DEMONSTRATIONS (MONDAY) IN TEHRAN. RICHARD ENGEL REPORTS FROM
OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO THAT THE PROTESTS MARK THE
FIFTH-DAY OF CLASHES BETWEEN DEMONSTRATORS AND POLICE AND
HARDLINE VIGILANTE GROUPS.
TEXT: WITNESSES SAY POLICE IN FULL-RIOT GEAR CLASHED WITH
PROTESTERS AT A CENTRAL SQUARE IN TEHRAN. POLICE USED TEAR GAS
AND FIRED SHOTS IN THE AIR TO DISPERSE THE CROWD.
MEANWHILE, FIVE-THOUSAND STUDENTS AND UNIVERSITY FACULTY STAGED A
SIT-IN AT TEHRAN UNIVERSITY. AT ONE POINT, A SHOT FIRED NEAR THE
UNIVERSITY CAMPUS SENT THE PROTESTERS RUNNING FOR COVER.
THE SHOT WAS HEARD WHEN THE DEMONSTRATORS WERE SHOUTING DOWN
ATTEMPTS BY POLICE TO READ A STATEMENT BY IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER,
AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI. IN IT, AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI CONDEMNS
IRANIAN POLICE FOR RAIDING A STUDENT HOSTEL LAST FRIDAY. THE
POLICE RAID FOLLOWED ISLAMIC VIGILANTE GROUPS FOUGHT WITH
STUDENTS.
IRANIAN NEWSPAPERS REPORT VIGILANTE GROUPS, WHICH ANALYSTS SAY
HAVE LOOSE TIES THE NATION'S RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENT, ALSO
ATTACKED STUDENT PROTESTERS SUNDAY IN THE NORTHWESTERN CITY OF
TABRIZ. DOZENS WERE INJURED AND NEWSPAPERS REPORT LOCAL SHOPS
AND VEHICLES WERE DESTROYED DURING THE CLASHES.
ANALYSTS SAY THE WAVE OF PROTESTS WHICH BEGAN AFTER AUTHORITIES
CLOSED THE LEADING REFORMIST NEWSPAPER, "SALAM", REPRESENTS THE
MOST SIGNIFICANT EXPRESSION OF POPULAR DISCONTENT SINCE IRAN'S
1979 REVOLUTION THAT BROUGHT THE CONSERVATIVE CLERGY TO POWER.
NEWSPAPERS REPORT THAT MANY JOURNALISTS ARE ALSO PLANNING A
ONE-DAY STRIKE TUESDAY TO PROTEST THE CLOSURE OF "SALAM".
THE PROTESTS BEGAN WITH THE CLOSURE OF THE NEWSPAPER AND GAINED
MOMENTUM AFTER CLASHES WITH POLICE. BUT ANALYSTS SAY THE REAL
ISSUE IS A POWER STRUGGLE BETWEEN REFORMISTS WHO BACK IRAN'S
MODERATE PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATAMI AND HARDLINE CONSERVATIVES
WHO OPPOSE THE CHANGES THE PRESIDENT HAS INTRODUCED OVER THE PAST
TWO-YEARS.
MANY STUDENTS AND OTHER KHATAMI SUPPORTERS SAY TOO MUCH POWER
REMAINS IN THE HANDS THE CONSERVATIVE RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENT AND
IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER.
DESPITE REFORMS MADE BY PRESIDENT KHATAMI TO INCREASE MANY
PERSONAL FREEDOMS, RELIGIOUS HARDLINERS STILL CONTROL IRAN'S
ARMED FORCES, INTELLIGENCE SERVICE, RADIO AND TELEVISION,
JUDICIARY AND THE POLICE. (SIGNED)
NEB/RHE/PCF/RAE
12-Jul-99 10:11 AM EDT (1411 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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