Khamenei Calls For Restraint Against Protestors
Voice of America
VOA News
12 Jun 2003, 11:50 UTC
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is urging hard-line vigilantes not to intervene after two nights of protests against the country's unelected Muslim clerical regime.
Ayatollah Khamenei, in a speech broadcast on state television Thursday, called on the vigilantes to refrain from being drawn into any conflict with the demonstrators. Thousands of Iranians turned out late Wednesday in Tehran for a second straight night of protests against the regime.
The demonstrators converged at or near Tehran University, the area where similar protests were held Tuesday night. Protesters shouted slogans against Iran's clerical regime and, in a rare twist, some also called on Iranian President Mohammad Khatami to resign, saying he has not introduced enough reforms.
There were reports of clashes between protesters and vigilantes and riot police, who dispersed the crowd early Thursday. Several demonstrators were reported injured. There were no immediate reports of arrests. During protests the previous night, authorities say police arrested 80 people.
Iran's intelligence minister, Ali Yunesi, alleged Wednesday that the protests were organized by foreign media and satellite television channels, an apparent reference to media owned by Iranian opposition groups in exile. The two days of protests are the first large student demonstrations in months.
Last year, thousands of students rallied several times to protest the death sentence handed down to reformist activist and professor Hashem Aghajari, who was accused of blasphemy. Following those demonstrations, Ayatollah Khamenei ordered a review of the case and Iran's Supreme Court lifted the sentence.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
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