MPs want opposition leaders hanged

MPs singled out Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, who had called for protests in Tehran on Monday in support of Arab uprisings that quickly turned into antigovernment demonstrations and ended in clashes with police in which several people were hurt, including nine security force members.

Mohammad Khatami, former reformist president, also came under fire from the nation’s conservatives following his open backing of the opposition movement since disputed June 2009 presidential elections.
“Mousavi and Karroubi should be executed! Death to Mousavi, Karroubi and Khatami!” the lawmakers shouted in the house, state news agency IRNA reported.
They said the United States, Britain and Israel had orchestrated Monday’s protests through the opposition leaders, who, according to parliament speaker Ali Larijani were being “misled” by Iran’s archfoes.
“The parliament condemns the Zionists, American, antirevolutionary and antinational action of the misled seditionists,” a visibly angry Larijani told the parliament.
“How did the gentlemen (Mousavi and Karroubi) . . . fall into the orchestrated trap of America?” he asked.
“Should they not have been cautious given the support, pleasure and joy of America and Israel as well as monarchists and Monafeghin?” Larijani added, referring to the outlawed People’s Mujahedeen of Iran (PMOI).

He also urged that a committee to be formed to probe and “confront” the opposition movement.
Despite a strict ban on the rally, heavy security force deployment and the placing of Mousavi and Karroubi under de facto house arrest, thousands of opposition supporters took to streets of the capital on Monday.

The demonstrations sparked violent clashes in which riot police fired tear gas and paintballs at demonstrators, witnesses and websites said.
Ahmad Reza Radan, deputy police chief of Iran, yesterday confirmed an earlier news agency report that a protestor had died in the clashes.
“One person was martyred by Monafeghin in the shooting at yesterday’s events,” Radan was quoted as saying by Fars news agency.
“In the events yesterday, some rioters were arrested and unfortunately Monafeghin elements fired shots at people and security forces. In these shootings nine security force members and some others were injured,” he said, adding that one of the wounded security members was critical. — AFP.

You Might Also Like

Comments