TEHRAN - Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Tehran for the sixth day on Monday, June 16, as the Islamic Republic accused the United States of âflagrant interferenceâ into its internal affairs. Protesters converged on the area in cars, as they have been doing since the gathering of a few hundred students on Tuesday, June 10, night grew into nightly protests by thousands of people. They chanted slogans against the conservative scholars and criticized the reformist President Mohammad Khatami, accusing him of betraying hopes for change. Islamic vigilantes, some carrying assault rifles and wearing bullet-proof vests, patrolled streets near the campus, and gunshots were heard with no reports of any casualties. Police have warned the vigilantes against taking the law into their own hands.
| Tip... Tip... Tip... When will the coppers come over? |
The previous five nights of protests left some 60 people, including 32 policemen, injured as five state banks, 22 cars and 34 motorbikes were damaged. Protestors have jammed the streets of Tehran's capital which were clogged with cars carrying people wanting to join the protests. Scores have been injured or arrested, while the protests have also reportedly spread to the provincial cities of Isfahan, Ahvaz and Shiraz - where one person was killed in circumstances that remain unclear. |