Thursday, February 24, 2005

Iran Guards tell leader forces unable to control Tehran uprising lasting more than 6 hours

Iran Focus:
In a recent secret report to the Iranian regime's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps pointed out that were a demonstration or rebellion to last more than six hours in Tehran, the security apparatus would no longer be able to control the situation.

"Society is in an unstable state. Were certain sensitive locations in Tehran to 'explode' under these circumstances, and the capital sink into chaos, if uprisings continue unabated and grow larger for more than six hours in Tehran, the situation would become uncontrollable", the report said.

The Iranian capital has been the scene of numerous clashes between people and State Security Forces over the past few months.

The Iranian regime has stepped up repression throughout the capital over the past year to combat any outbursts against the state.

Clashes have also erupted elsewhere in Iran in recent weeks. Iranian Kurds and security agents clashed heavily on Friday in three towns in western Iran, leaving dozens injured and hundreds arrested.

The disruption occurred after SSF agents used force to disperse demonstrations taking place simultaneously in the towns of Sardasht, Saqqez, and Baneh in protest against severe fuel shortages in the area, eye-witnesses reported.

The demonstrations quickly turned violent as protestors fought back and shouted slogans against Iran's ruling clerics.

Similarly, thousands of people flooded the streets of Mahabad (Kurdistan province) in mid-February, clashing with the SSF after days of gas, water, and electricity interruptions.

The demonstration quickly turned into a mass rally and youths set fire to banners and posters celebrating the 26th anniversary of the revolution that toppled the monarchy.

Eye-witnesses reported that at least two plainclothes policemen were injured during the ensuing clashes.