Print  Email

Iranians in traffic jam protest for democracy

Thousands of Iranians took to the streets of Tehran early on Sunday on a fifth night of pro-democracy demonstrations, but most kept to their cars for fear of attack by roaming hardline Islamic vigilantes.

Riot police formed a ring around Tehran University to protect students from the volunteer militiamen who stormed dormitories the night before, beating those inside.

But hundreds of the plainclothes militiamen, fiercely loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, remained just the other side of metal barriers, manning roadblocks throughout the city and patrolling the midnight traffic jams.

"Is my life more valuable than that of the young people?" asked one middle-aged woman from the window of her car.

"This is just like it was before the revolution," she added, recalling months of unrest that toppled the US-backed Shah in 1979.

Police had earlier warned Islamic hardliners who attacked demonstrators with clubs, knives and chains on previous nights against taking the law into their own hands.

They also said they had arrested hardline gang leader Saeed Askari and some of his followers after they attacked demonstrators.

The protests have moved on from earlier demonstrations in Iran, with ordinary people turning out in support of the traditionally politicised students to condemn both powerful conservative clerics and reformist President Mohammad Khatami.

But a fierce crackdown by Islamic militia forces early on Saturday appeared to have subdued many and prevented them from forming large crowds.

Khamenei, Iran's most powerful figure, said authorities would show no mercy for "mercenaries of the enemy".

Conservatives blamed unrest on a US plot.

Print  Email