Rival factions in street clashes outside Tehran University

Violent scuffles broke out yesterday outside Tehran University in downtown Tehran between supporters of the clerical regime's two warring factions, leaving many wounded on both sides, according to a report by the Mojahedin's Command Headquarters in Iran. At least 12 arrests were made by State Security Forces agents who intervened to stop the fighting.

The clashes started with brawls between members of the Office for the Strengthening of Unity, a pro-Khatami group, and those of the pro-Khamenei Ansar-e Hezbollah. Extensive fighting ensued and rapidly spread to streets surrounding the University. Clashes went on from 3 to 5 pm local time and ended after the intervention of the State Security Forces agents, who arrested several demonstrators from both sides.

While tensions within the ruling circle has been on the rise in the past few weeks over such issues as the impeachment of Islamic Guidance Minister Ata'ollah Mohajerani, conviction of cleric Mohsen Kadivar and imprisonment of ousted Tehran mayor Gholamhossein Karbaschi, street fighting between partisans of the rival factions in Tehran and different cities across the country has become more violent.

People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran
May 10, 1999

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