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Funeral in Iran Draws Government Critics, Supporters

   VOA News 14 January 2010
   Mourners  carry  the  body of slain Iranian physics professor, Massoud
   Ali  Mohammadi,  who was killed when a bomb-rigged motorcycle exploded
   on  Tuesday  morning  outside his home, at the bomb blast scene in his
   funeral ceremony, in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Jan.

Photo: AP

   Mourners  carry  the  body of slain Iranian physics professor, Massoud
   Ali Mohammadi, in his funeral ceremony, in Tehran, Iran, 14 Jan 2010

   The  funeral of a slain Iranian professor drew both pro-government and
   anti-government demonstrators in Tehran Thursday.
   An  estimated  1,000  mourners  took  part in a funeral procession for
   nuclear physics professor Massoud Ali Mohammadi.
   Police   stood  watch  as  some  mourners  chanted  anti-American  and
   anti-Israeli  slogans.   Witnesses say others carried green banners in
   support of Iran's opposition reformists.
   Mohammadi's  name  was among university professors who signed a letter
   supporting  opposition  leader  Mir  Hossein  Mousavi  in  last year's
   disputed presidential election.  The June poll sparked mass opposition
   protests accusing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of stealing the vote.
   Mohammadi was killed outside his home in northern Tehran Tuesday, when
   a remote-controlled bomb on a motorbike exploded.
   President  Ahmadinejad alleged Thursday the bombing was carried out in
   what he called a "Zionist" manner, an apparent reference to Israel.
   Iran  has  blamed  the  United  States  and Israel for the professor's
   murder.   A  U.S.  spokesman  called the accusation "absurd."  Israeli
   Cabinet  Minister  Benjamin Ben Eliezer says it is not surprising that
   Iran is blaming Israel, but says he knows nothing about the incident.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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