DATE=7/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251792
TITLE=IRAN PROTESTS (L)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IRAN'S INTERIOR MINISTER SAYS THE NATION'S SECURITY
FORCES HAVE SUCCEEDED IN ENDING WHAT HE CALLS A NATIONAL CRISIS.
RICHARD ENGEL FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU REPORTS THE OFFICIAL
ALSO THANKED POLICE FOR PUTTING DOWN THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SOCIAL
UNREST IRAN HAS SEEN IN 20 YEARS.
TEXT: IRANIAN AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PUT AN END
TO A WEEK OF PRO-REFORM DEMONSTRATORS. TEHRAN WAS REPORTED QUIET
THURSDAY AFTER BEING ROCKED FOR SEVEN DAYS BY STREET
DEMONSTRATIONS.
ANALYSTS SAY MANY IRANIANS TURNED AGAINST THE PROTESTS WHEN THE
DEMONSTRATIONS DEGENERATED INTO RIOTS ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
SOME DEMONSTRATORS, ANGERED BY WIDESPREAD ARRESTS AND CLASHES
WITH POLICE, BURNED CARS, BROKE WINDOWS, AND LOOTED SHOPS.
TEHRAN RESIDENTS SAY THEY REJECT THE VIOLENCE AND CHAOS THEY SAW
DURING THE PAST FEW DAYS. THEY SAY THE PROTESTS WERE STARTING TO
LOOK FRIGHTENINGLY SIMILAR TO ONES DURING THE CHAOTIC DAYS OF THE
1979 REVOLUTION THAT BROUGHT IRAN'S CONSERVATIVE CLERGY TO POWER.
OTHERS SAY THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE PROTESTS SHOWED IRANIANS
THAT THE STUDENT-LED REFORMERS ARE TOO POORLY ORGANIZED TO BE
TRUSTED WITH AUTHORITY.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF IRANIANS TOOK PART IN A
COUNTER-DEMONSTRATION WEDNESDAY TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR IRAN'S
CONSERVATIVE ISLAMIC GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION TO THE STUDENTS
WHO WANT RAPID REFORM.
ANALYSTS SAY IRAN'S MODERATE PRESIDENT, MOHAMMED KHATAMI, ALSO
FAILED TO BACK THE STUDENTS, WHO WERE AMONG HIS STRONGEST
SUPPORTERS IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS TWO YEARS AGO. THE
PRESIDENT IGNORED CALLS BY THE PROTESTERS TO ADDRESS THEM.
INSTEAD HE REMAINED INSIDE THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE AND CALLED FOR
THE RESTORATION OF NATIONAL ORDER.
PRESIDENT KHATAMI SAID THE PEOPLE WHO CARRIED OUT ACTS OF
VIOLENCE DURING THE PROTESTS HAD WHAT HE CALLED "EVIL INTENTIONS"
AND THAT THEY MUST BE "ROOTED OUT." BUT PRESIDENT KHATAMI DID
MAKE A SMALL CONCESSION TO THE DEMONSTRATORS BY SAYING -- IN HIS
WORDS -- THAT HE FEELS THEIR PAIN. THE IRANIAN PRESIDENT ALSO
CONDEMNED POLICE FOR ACTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST STUDENTS.
ALTHOUGH THE STREET PROTESTS SEEM OVER, ANALYSTS SAY THE RIVALRY
BETWEEN HARD-LINERS AND REFORMERS WILL CONTINUE. BUT AT LEAST
FOR NOW, THEY SAY, IT WILL BE LIMITED TO POLITICAL, NOT
PHYSICAL, BATTLES FOR POWER IN IRAN. (SIGNED)
NEB/RHE/SB/KL
15-Jul-99 7:20 AM EDT (1120 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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