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Iran Government Fuel Price Hike Sparks 2nd Day of Violent Protests

Edward Yeranian

   CAIRO - Iranian protesters are on the streets in dozens of towns and
   cities across the country as anger spreads following a government
   decision to double the price of fuel. The protests appear to have
   gained momentum after the top Shi'ite cleric in neighboring Iraq,
   Ayatollah Ali Sistani, sided with protesters in a Friday prayer sermon
   delivered by one of his followers.

   Dozens of protesters in the capital of Iran's Azerbaijan province,
   Tabriz, clashed with government security forces Saturday, pelting them
   with stones on a major highway through the city. Amateur video showed
   traffic stopped as police charged protesters in an attempt to chase
   them off the roadway.

   Protesters also blocked traffic using cars and buses in the capital,
   Tehran, amid an unseasonal snow storm. Other video showed demonstrators
   chanting slogans in front of a pro-government militia office in Tehran.

   Protests were reported Saturday in dozens of Iranian towns and cities
   for the second straight day, following a government decision to raise
   fuel prices. A number of people reportedly were killed or wounded, but
   reports were conflicting over the exact casualty count. Saudi-owned
   al-Arabiya TV reported that 9 protesters were killed Saturday.

   Amateur video showed protesters in the region of Karaj chasing police
   after officers shot and reportedly killed two unarmed demonstrators.
   VOA could not confirm the deaths.

   Arab media also reported that Iran closed a major border crossing with
   neighboring Iraq as demonstrations there continued unabated. Iraq's top
   Shi'ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, came out in support of
   protesters against government corruption during a Friday prayer sermon
   delivered by one of his followers.

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