DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s
supreme leader on Sunday cautiously backed
the government’s decision to raise gasoline
prices by 50% after days of widespread
protests, calling those who attacked public
property during demonstrations “thugs” and
signaling that a potential crackdown loomed.
supreme leader on Sunday cautiously backed
the government’s decision to raise gasoline
prices by 50% after days of widespread
protests, calling those who attacked public
property during demonstrations “thugs” and
signaling that a potential crackdown loomed.
The government shut down internet
access across the nation of 80 million
people to staunch demonstrations that
took place in a reported 100 cities and towns. That made it increasingly difficult
to gauge whether unrest continued. Images published by state and semiofficial
media showed the scale of the damage in images of burned gas stations and banks,
torched vehicles and roadways littered with debris.
access across the nation of 80 million
people to staunch demonstrations that
took place in a reported 100 cities and towns. That made it increasingly difficult
to gauge whether unrest continued. Images published by state and semiofficial
media showed the scale of the damage in images of burned gas stations and banks,
torched vehicles and roadways littered with debris.
Since the price hike, demonstrators have abandoned cars along major highways
and joined mass protests in the capital, Tehran, and elsewhere. Some protests
turned violent, with demonstrators setting fires as gunfire rang out.
and joined mass protests in the capital, Tehran, and elsewhere. Some protests
turned violent, with demonstrators setting fires as gunfire rang out.
It remains to be seen how many people were arrested, injured or killed. Videos
from the protests have shown people gravely wounded.
from the protests have shown people gravely wounded.
Iranian authorities on Sunday raised the official death toll in the violence to at
least three. Attackers targeting a police station in the western city of Kermanshah
on Saturday killed an officer, the state-run IRNA news agency reported Sunday. A lawmaker said another person was killed in a suburb of Tehran. Earlier, one man
was reported killed Friday in Sirjan, a city some 800 kilometers (500 miles)
southeast of Tehran. READ MORE
least three. Attackers targeting a police station in the western city of Kermanshah
on Saturday killed an officer, the state-run IRNA news agency reported Sunday. A lawmaker said another person was killed in a suburb of Tehran. Earlier, one man
was reported killed Friday in Sirjan, a city some 800 kilometers (500 miles)
southeast of Tehran. READ MORE