DATE=8/30/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAN UNREST (L)
NUMBER=2-265984
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In Iran, reformist and conservative leaders
are condemning recent violence in the western city of
Khorramabad in which a policeman was killed and dozens
of people were wounded, including the provincial
governor. V-O-A Middle East Correspondent Scott Bobb
reports the unrest began when conservative hard-liners
in the city disrupted a meeting of reformist students.
TEXT: The head of Iran's leading reformist group,
Reza Khatami,(Wednesday) denounced the attacks in
Khorramabad. But Mr. Khatami, who is the brother of
the Iranian president, also urged students to remain
calm and refrain from violence.
The unrest also was condemned by the conservative-
dominated Friday Prayer Leaders. The Iranian news
agency quotes a leading conservative figure,
Habibollah Asgarowladi, as demanding a detailed and
impartial probe into the unrest which he said favors
U-S policy.
The English-language newspaper, Iran Daily, Wednesday,
lamented the incident in a front-page editorial,
saying society should not allow violations of civil
rights to be used to foster gains by individuals or
political factions.
Several members of parliament said they would launch
an investigation and summon the ministers of interior
and intelligence for questioning.
The unrest began last Thursday when conservative
sympathizers prevented two reformist leaders from
addressing a student conference, leading to protests
and cancellation of the conference. Buses returning
student delegates home were subsequently attacked by
vigilantes and their occupants beaten.
Shops and a bank were damaged during clashes Sunday in
which a policeman was shot to death and several others
wounded. The provincial governor was struck by a rock
Tuesday while attending the officer's funeral.
Political tensions have been rising in recent months
amid a crackdown on Iran's pro-reform press.
Virtually all pro-reform newspapers have been closed
down. Many journalists and publishers have been
detained for questioning and a number of them have
been sentenced to prison terms.
The Iranian News Agency (Wednesday) reported a
special press court has ordered the Arya daily
newspaper permanently closed and sentenced its editor
to four months in jail. The editor, Mohammad-Reza
Zohdi, was found guilty of spreading lies and
distorting public opinion.
The official news agency also reported (Wednesday)
that a lawyer who has defended reformist journalists
was arrested for what were called "false allegations"
against the judiciary during an interview on V-O-A.
The editor of the banned Danestaniha paper was also
reportedly detained after a similar interview.
(Signed)
NEB/SB/JWH/PW
30-Aug-2000 11:22 AM EDT (30-Aug-2000 1522 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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