Iran: More than 200 arrested in student protests

[TomClash]

Source: AP

Dec 8, 8:53 AM EST

Iran: More than 200 arrested in student protests

By NASSER KARIMI
Associated Press Writer

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran threatened tougher action against protesters Tuesday after more than 200 were arrested during marches by tens of thousands at universities across the country, the biggest anti-government rallies in months.

The warning suggested that Monday's unrest raised authorities' concern that the protest movement could pick up new steam. The protests Monday turned into fierce clashes between youths throwing stones and riot police and militiamen wielding batons and tear gas.

Perhaps more importantly, they also saw an increased fervor and boldness among demonstrators, who more openly broke the biggest taboo in Iran - burning pictures of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and chanting slogans against him.

The turnout, fueled by students marching by the thousands on more than a dozen campuses around the country, showed that months of arrests and government intimidation had failed to stamp out the movement, sparked by the disputed presidential election in June.

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Iran's top prosecutor, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, warned on Tuesday that the judiciary will be harsher than in the past.

"So far, we have shown restraint. From today no leniency will be applied," Ejehi said, according to the official IRNA news agency.

He said Tehran prosecutors should take stronger action against those "who violate public order and damage public properties."

more . . .



Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_IRAN?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME

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1. Pictures from Iran by the BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8399870.stm