From: J Corbally (icorb@indigo.ie)
Date: Mon Jun 16 2003 - 14:46:30 MDT
Things in Iran look to be hotting up, with pro-reform students saying
they'll demonstrate until early July. That, plus the trouble being stirred
up by Islamist "vigilantes" and the pressure being put on by the EU/U.S.
looks like potentially pushing Iran to greater internal unrest.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2992628.stm
>Iran protests at US 'interference'
>
>Iran has made a strong protest over what it calls American "interference"
>in its internal affairs.
>Thirty "miscreants and hooligans" are being held by police, after
>thousands took to the streets in a sixth night of demonstrations on Sunday.
>A police commander quoted by the official Irna news agency did not say
>whether those detained were anti-regime protesters, or hardline Islamic
>vigilantes opposing them.
>On Sunday an influential group of Iranian dissidents issued an
>unprecedented declaration defending the right to criticise their leaders.
>As well as criticising the conservative clerics, demonstrators have also
>attacked the reformist President, Mohammad Khatami, who is accused of
>betraying hopes for change.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2994674.stm
>Iran rejects tougher nuclear checks
>
>Iran has confirmed that it will not sign up to tougher, short-notice
>inspections of suspected nuclear sites.
>The European Union joined growing international pressure on Iran on
>Monday, saying Tehran should comply with the measures "urgently and
>unconditionally".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2992240.stm
>Iran dissidents raise their voices
>
>An influential group of Iranian dissidents have issued an unprecedented
>declaration defending the right to criticise their leaders.
>Following five nights of violent protests around Tehran University, the
>248 reformists said the people of Iran had "the right to fully supervise
>the action of their rulers".
>"Sitting or making individuals sit in the position of divine and absolute
>power is a clear heresy towards God and a clear affront to human dignity,"
>said the strongly-worded statement.
>US President George W Bush has meanwhile described the Iranian protests as
>"positive" and "the beginning of people expressing themselves toward a
>free Iran".
>Both conservative and pro-reform members of the Iranian establishment have
>strongly condemned US support for the demonstrations, which are now
>reported to have spread beyond Tehran.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2989778.stm
>Iranian protesters remain resolute
>
>Crowds of students in the Iranian capital Tehran have staged nights of
>protests to express anger about the slow pace of reform in the country.
>The rare show of defiance against the power of Iranian supreme leader
>Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been harshly suppressed by conservative
>vigilantes and the Iranian authorities.
(Followed by a comments section)
Worth keeping an eye on developments.
James...
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Mon Jun 16 2003 - 14:51:44 MDT