Security Forces Clash With Protesters in Tehran

Reports: Security Forces Clash With Protesters in Tehran

VOA News  March 01, 2011

Photo: AP

In this Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 photo, leaders of Iranian opposition, Mahdi Karroubi, right, and Mir Hossein Mousavi talk in Tehran, Iran

The opposition said Tuesday Iranian security forces fired tear gas in an effort to disperse protesters demanding the release of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karroubi and their wives. Opposition websites say they were jailed on Monday.

Iranian opposition activists have called for protests to be held every Tuesday to demand the release of the two leading reformists.

Iran's prosecutor general, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, told the semi-official ISNA news agency Tuesday that the opposition leaders are not in prison.

Iran's government put the two prominent reformists under house arrest after they called for opposition rallies February 14 in solidarity with anti-government uprisings in the Arab world.  Iran's government banned the rallies and ordered security forces to disperse them, triggering violence that killed two people.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday Iran's dealings with opposition leaders is an "internal affair." He said no other country will be allowed to interfere with Iran's domestic issues.

On Monday, White House spokesman Jay Carney criticized the reported detention of the two opposition leaders as "unacceptable" and called for their release.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also criticized Iran Monday, accusing it of carrying out a systematic crackdown on the opposition. She called for Tehran to show transparency on alleged human rights violations.