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Seven killed in post-polls violence in Iran
Seven people have been killed in southern Iran after sporadic violent clashes followed the announcement of results from Fridayâs controversial parliamentary elections. Four people were killed in clashes on Saturday with police in Izeh in southwestern Iran, a provincial official said. âDemonstrators wanted to attack the prefecture but police prevented them. Then they attacked the town hall, and police opened fire and used tear gas,â the deputy governor of Khuzestan province was quoted as saying. âThe deputy elected, Seyed Hadi Tabatabai, is safe and sound,â added that the official, whose name was not given. He explained the protestors were contesting the results that saw the conservative candidate win. Another source told the agency that the mobs were venting their anger over alleged irregularities in the polls. Thirty people were arrested, he said.
"What kind of irregularities?"
"Dead people. Lots of 'em. It was really scary until I saw Grandmaw!" |
In Firouzabad in the southern province of Fars, a local politician said that âthree or four peopleâ were also killed and six others injured there on Saturday after similar protests. The source said the victorious conservative candidate there raised suspicions after winning an âabnormally high number of votesâ.
"How high's 'abnormally high'?"
"'Bout 212 percent of the entire population of the province." |
Press reports on Sunday has pointed to violence in other areas of the country, but no further details on other trouble spots were immediately available.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2004-02-23 |
