Author:
Publication: BBC News
Date: June 15, 2003
URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2991162.stm
Thousands of pro-reform demonstrators
have taken to the streets of the Iranian capital Tehran for the fifth successive
night.
But most stayed inside their cars,
fearing a repeat of the attacks by right-wing vigilantes on the previous
demonstrations.
Reports say there was an overwhelming
police presence, resulting in muted protests which passed off largely without
incident.
The protests, which are now reported
to have spread to other cities, have been against the conservative clerical
establishment and the reformist President, Mohamed Khatami, who is accused
of betraying hopes for change.
Riot police formed a ring around
Tehran university to protect students from conservative vigilantes who
stormed dormitories there the night before.
Police had earlier warned the vigilantes,
who are loyal to the country's supreme religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,
against taking the law into their own hands.
They have also issued a warrant
for the arrest of Sa'id Askari, a prominent pro-government vigilante leader
who was seen at the demonstrations.
And state radio reports police have
arrested scores of what it describes as "thugs and ruffians" in the previous
four nights of civil unrest in Tehran.
Despite this, the latest protests
saw vigilantes gather close to the university, while others patrolled traffic
jams and manned roadblocks.
US condemnation
The early hours of Saturday morning
saw security forces and hundreds of vigilantes used tear gas, clubs, chains
and iron bars to disperse protesters.
Students said dozens of armed Islamic
vigilantes were involved in the attack on the university dormitory.
The US has denounced action against
the student-led protests and called on the Iranian Government to protect
demonstrators' rights.
A White House statement reiterated
support for democratic reform in Iran, demanding that the voice of the
Iranian people be heard.
The Iranian authorities have accused
the US and Iranian exiles of fomenting the current unrest.
The BBC's Miranda Eeles, in Tehran,
says thousands of ordinary Iranians have joined the students in demonstrations.
Despite the rough treatment of protesters,
and warnings from Ayatollah Khamenei, our correspondent says the demonstrators'
resolve to continue speaking out against the slow process of reform shows
no sign of waning.
Student associations have said they
will continue to demonstrate until 9 July, to commemorate the violent attack
by hardline groups on students four years ago.
Have you been involved in the protests?
Have they affected you in any way? Tell us your experiences.
