Pro-democracy students held in Iran

TEHERAN, JULY 8. Iranian police detained several pro-democracy students in an attempt to disperse a rally in Teheran staged to mark the anniversary of a violent police raid on a student hostel, witnesses said.

About 200 students gathered outside the Teheran university campus, distributing flowers and chanting slogans against hardline Islamic officials who oppose the President, Mr. Mohammad Khatami's reforms. The police moved in after the students repeatedly rebuffed their request to disperse.

The students, some of whom were carrying pictures of Mr. Khatami, left the scene after several of their colleagues were rounded up.

The rally was held despite appeals for calm by Mr. Khatami and his allies in the face of a Islamic backlash against reform, including the jailing of many liberal activists and mass closure of independent publications.

Heeding the call, the main student group, the Office of Consolidation of Unity (OCU), had pledged its followers would not take to the streets for the anniversary of last year's raid on Teheran university hostel by police and hardline vigilantes.

- Reuters

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Section  : International
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