[Al Arabiya Latest] Iranian riot police clashed with hundreds of pro-reform protesters in central Tehran's Haft-e Tir square on Tuesday, a witness said, adding dozens of people were detained. "There are hundreds of riot police and plainclothes, beating people who gathered to support (opposition leader Mirhossein) Mousavi," the witness said. "There are hundreds of protesters at Haft-e Tir square."The witness said the protesters were chanting slogans against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the government, including: "Ahmadinejad -- resign, resign" and "Death to the dictator."
The witness added: "Riot police are taking dozens of protesters into their cars and they are taking them away."
The Mashaie controversies
" Certain Internet sites published a report about Mr. Mashaie's resignation as first vice president in a coordinated action aimed at tarnishing the government "VP Mashaie's personal website |
On Sunday, state-owned English-language channel Press TV reported that Mashaie, a close aide to Ahmadinejad, had resigned three days after his appointment, which was strongly opposed by hardliners among the newly-re-elected president's own support base.
Mashaie, whose daughter is married to Ahmadinejad's son, is an outspoken figure who last year earned the wrath of hardliners, including supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for saying Iran is a "friend of the Israeli people."