Unrest in Iran spreads to provinces as studeras clash with security forces http://wwwguardiaacou lc/world/2009/Jun'16/iran-shiraz-university-chan .
guardlancouk
Unrest in Iran spreads to provinces as
students clash with security forces
Robert Tait
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 16 June 2009 21.10 BST
A is z risia
The head of one of jç fs most prestigious universities resigned today in protest at a
security forces attack believed to have left at least one student dead. Mohammad Hadi
Sadeghi stepped down as chancellor of Shiraz University after riot police and special
forces stormed a library and fired teargas.
More than 100 students were arrested and at least one staff member was assaulted. The
confrontation, on Monday, was the latest in a series in Shiraz since last week and
feelings ran high today. Autnews, a website run by students at Tehran's Amir Kabir
University, reported that tension had spread into the city. One rally, in Shiraz, was
assailed by security forces, causing violent clashes and many arrests. Armed security
forces lined the street leading to the university shoulder to shoulder.
Similar incidents were reported elsewhere. In Mashhad, the volunteer Basij militia and
Ansar-e Hezbollah vigilante movement clashed with students at Ferdowsi University.
Two political leaders, Mehdi Abayi, head of the Islamic Participation party, in Khorasan,
and Amir Eghtenaee, leader of the provincial branch of the Tahkim-e Vahdat student
movement, were arrested.
Unrest was also reported at universities in Sistan-Baluchestan, Kermanshah, and
Mazandaran. Unconfirmed reports suggested two people died in Orumiyeh in a rally of
more than 3,000 people.
In Qom, HQ of Iran's clerical establishment, the only reported demonstrations were
against the former president, Hashemi Rafsanjani, widely seen as a key backer of the
defeated reformist candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi.
guardian. co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2009
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