Iran's Southern Khuzestan Province Sliding into Chaos

John C.K. Daly, UPI:

Ethnic tension in the northern Persian Gulf is not limited to Iraq; Iran's southern Khuzestan province is sliding into chaos. Friday marked another day of fierce fighting between people and government forces. READ MORE

Several days ago severe clashes left dozens dead and hundreds wounded or arrested. The latest incidents erupted between Iran's State Security Forces and local residents in several districts of Ahwaz, including Kut Abdullah, Kian and Khashayar.

Ahwaz, near to the Iraqi border, has a largely Arab population that has faced harsh repression under clerical rule. On Friday, anti-government protests again erupted in Ahwaz after SSF units were dispatched to quiet 3,000 residents demonstrating over government plans to redefine the ethnic makeup of the province.

The demonstrators looted several government buildings, police stations and set fire to the Agriculture Bank. After the SSF opened up with weapons on the demonstrators at least 300 people were reported injured.

This was the sixth consecutive day of unrest in Ahwaz despite the heavy presence of various security forces, Revolutionary Guards, and officials of the Ministry of Intelligence and Security, who have been arresting anyone suspected of starting demonstrations. Ahwaz was placed under a de facto martial law after demonstrators killed a number of SSF agents.

When Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani, known locally as the "Butcher of Ahwaz" for his role in the bloody suppression of anti-government disturbances in the city in 1979, tried to enter an Ahwaz's Dayereh neighborhood with a large contingent of bodyguards, youths attacked them with stones, forcing Shamkhani and his entourage to flee. Unrest has spread to other cities of the province.