TEHRAN - Anti-riot police have arrested dozens of demonstrators during two days of protest against the annulment of an election result in a south Iranian town, a local journalist said Thursday.

"The city streets are full of stones, burned tires and broken glass," the journalist said of Sarvestan, a town in Fars Province.

The riot is the third protest in two weeks over the actions of the Guardians Council, which has used its authority to disqualify candidates and annul results in the Feb. 18 parliamentary elections.

The journalist said the protests began Wednesday when residents heard that the council had disqualified the candidate, Zeinolabedin Tahmasbi, who had won Sarvestan in the elections. The council had awarded the seat to the runner-up, Saadollah Rousta-Tasouji, a hard-line candidate.

As news of the disqualification spread, shopkeepers closed their stores and some 10,000 people gathered in front of the governor's office to demand recognition of the original results, said the journalist, reached by telephone. He spoke on condition of anonymity.

The journalist said that as the demonstration turned violent, anti-riot police were called in from the provincial capital of Shiraz.
 

Mullahs' Leader Denounces Pro-Khatami Newspapers, Associated Press, April 20

TEHRAN - Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, today lashed out at Iran's pro-Khatami newspapers, saying they undermined Islamic and revolutionary principles.

"There are 10 to 15 papers writing as if they are directed from one center, undermining Islamic and revolutionary principles, insulting constitutional bodies and creating tension and discord in society," Khamenei told an estimated 100,000 youths in Tehran's Grand Mosque, the country's largest religious complex.

"But I warn against any illegal action by any person due to emotion and support for this or that person. I'll not allow this," he said.

"A shooting happens. Investigations have not produced any results, and these newspapers accuse the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps ... of involvement." Khamenei said. "This trend is detrimental to the state, revolution, the youth and the faith of the people."

Khamenei said he has told Mohammad Khatami about this trend. "He is also unhappy with this situation. It is unlikely that advice will be effective for them," Khamenei said.

Khamenei accused the pro-Khatami press of becoming the "bases of the enemy" in Iran and going along with "American, British and Zionist media."

"Unfortunately, some of the newspapers have become the bases of the enemy. They are performing the same task that the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) radio and Voice of America as well as the British and American and Zionist television broadcasts intend to perform," Khamenei said.
 

Regime's Fast Approaching End of the Line, Iran Zamin News Agency, April 20

Commenting on Khamenei's speech, NCR President Massoud Rajavi said: "The [Khamenei's] description of the pro-Khatami newspapers as 'the enemy's base,' the extreme anxiety over the vulnerability and fall from grace of the mullahs' Supreme Leader, the fears over the increasing degeneration of the stature of the Revolutionary Guards and Bassij, the targets of the Iranian Resistance's operations, signal in no uncertain terms the aggravating crisis and the fact that the mullahs' regime is approaching the end of the line.

"This situation has made it necessary for Khamenei to launch continuous attacks on the rival faction and for Khatami and his clique to yield repeatedly. That the Majlis elections and the fate of the next parliament hang in balance amid the aggravating power struggle have made the situation all the more volatile. The dominant faction is trying to draw the line in the sand to prevent the convening of the new Majlis.

"The regime's internal crisis is fast approaching an inevitable showdown. The mullahs' vali-e faqih has no choice other than recourse to violence, suppression and crisis-mongering if he wants to hold on to power," Mr. Rajavi said.

The NCR President added: "Khatami's consent to new restrictions on the press once again shows his lack of principles and betrayal of even his own partisans."
 

Court Summons Pro-Khatami Figures After Berlin Meeting, Reuters, April 20

TEHRAN - A Revolutionary Court has summoned over a dozen pro-Khatami figures after they took part in a Western seminar, state radio said on Thursday.

It cited a Justice Department statement as saying that case files had been opened and the activists had been ordered to appear for interrogation after they returned this week from the meeting in Berlin.

Back to Brief on Iran