Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Aug. 04 Irans semi-official daily Jomhouri Islami on Thursday acknowledged yesterdays violent clashes in the Kurdish town of Saqqez, northwest Iran, where at least 11 people were reportedly killed after police opened fire on protestors from both the ground and military helicopters in the air. Iran Focus
Tehran, Iran, Aug. 04 Irans semi-official daily Jomhouri Islami on Thursday acknowledged yesterdays violent clashes in the Kurdish town of Saqqez, northwest Iran, where at least 11 people were reportedly killed after police opened fire on protestors from both the ground and military helicopters in the air.
Following the recent unrest in certain Kurdish towns, riots broke out yesterday in the town of Saqqez and a group that was previously unheard of called the Militant Students Organisation caused trouble by damaging a number of shops, banks, and government property, Jomhouri Islami wrote.
The troublemakers, while throwing stones and other material at banks, attacked the governors office in Saqqez as they moved along, the semi-official daily, which is close to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, reported.
It is said that two of the troublemakers were shot at when they tried to disarm agents of the State Security Forces, it added.
Eye-witnesses reported that anti-government protests began in Saqqez at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, as hundreds of young people took to the streets and attacked government buildings and set fire to several vehicles belonging to security forces.
The town remained tense on Thursday and security forces, reinforced by the arrival of additional Revolutionary Guards units from nearby areas, maintain a heavy presence, residents reported.