Iran warns against protests, two protesters killed

AFP

AFP

Sunday, December 31, 2017 04:13

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Sunday, December 31, 2017 04:13

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TEHRAN | Iran warned on Sunday that protesters would “pay the price”, after another night of protests against the power in the country, during which two people were killed, tens arrested, and public buildings attacked.

Videos posted on social networks showed thousands of people marching in cities across Iran on the night. The official media also started to publish videos of the protests, portraying them as “counter-revolutionaries” those who burn flags, iranians or attacking public buildings.

It is of the most important events since the protest movement against the re-election of ex-president ultraconservateur Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009, which had been violently repressed.

“Those who destroy public property, create a mess and act in the illegality must answer for their actions and pay the price. We will act against the violence and those who cause the fear and the terror,” warned the Interior minister, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli.

Two protesters were killed in clashes in the town of Doroud (west), said the vice-governor of the province of Lorestan, Habibollah Khojastehpour, accusing “groups and hostile foreign intelligence services of being behind the unrest”.

He assured that the security forces had not fired on protesters. “Our goal was to put a peaceful end to the protests but because of the presence of certain individuals and groups, two people were killed,” according to him.

According to a channel Telegram of the revolutionary Guards, an elite army of the regime, “armed people were infiltrators among the protesters and fired indiscriminately on citizens, and against the prefecture”.

In the Face of the economic difficulties of the country, isolated and subjected for years to international sanctions for its nuclear activities sensitive, protests broke out Thursday in some cities of the province before taking the magnitude.

The protests against economic difficulties but also against the power continued Friday and Saturday. Slogans such as “Death to the dictator” have been launched by protesters.

Silence Khamenei and Rohani

This is the first time that so many cities are affected by such a move since 2009.

But the plan continues to be broad support among the population, with the mobilization of tens of thousands of people Saturday to mark the anniversary of the rally, which put an end to the dispute of 2009.

Antigovernment protests seem to have been initiated by the poor class of the society, in anger by reason of unemployment, the cost of living and financial scandals.

“These protests are a part of the society that has been affected by the economic difficulties in the major, including those who have lost their money with the bankruptcy of credit institutions”, writes Payam Parhiz, editor-in-chief of the network of media reformer, Nazar.

Or the number one of the islamic Republic of Iran, the supreme leader Ali Khamenei, or the president Hassan Rohani have responded publicly since the beginning of the unrest. Mr Rohani has been re-elected triumphantly last may with the promise of an improving economy and more freedom and social and cultural.

According to the agency, Ilna, 80 people have been arrested in Arak (center) during the protests, while three or four people were injured Saturday.

“Individuals have attempted to attack government buildings but have not been successful. The situation is under control”, said a local official.

“Counter-revolutionaries”

In Tehran, hundreds of protesters have held head Saturday night to the forces of law and order in the university district, before being dispersed by firing tear gas.

The news agency Mehr has posted on the e-mail encrypted Telegram of videos showing protesters attacking a town hall in Tehran, toppling a police car and burning trash cans.

“Minor damage was caused to the town hall”, said mayor of Tehran, Mohammad-Ali Najafi.

Other media reported the destruction in the capital, denouncing the “troublemakers”.

The iranian authorities, who have cut off for a few hours access to the internet over mobile phone networks, claim that the majority of information on social networks come from saudi Arabia, a rival regional of Iran, or opposition groups based in Europe.

Official media have accused the groups of “counter-revolutionaries” abroad to exploit the gatherings.

On Saturday, the us president, Donald Trump has repeated his warnings to Iran, saying that “the oppressive regimes cannot endure for ever”.

Tehran had already rejected a previous position of Mr. Trump, in saying that they did give the “no value” to american statements.