Iranian demonstrators dispersed by riot troops

Calcutta News.Net
Monday 22nd June, 2009

Demonstrators in Iran have once again been set upon by riot police as they gathered to pay tribute to a woman killed in last week's riots.

The feared Revolutionary Guard threatened to crush the protesters who had turned up to honour the woman, whose shooting death had been widely circulated on the Internet.

People scurried from the streets after tear gas and live bullets were fired into the air to break up the protest group, which numbered about 200.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered opposition supporters last week to halt their marches and respect the election outcome, saying President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had been the victor.

Iran says at least 17 protesters have died in a week of unrest, including at least 10 killed in confrontations the day after Khamenei's speech.

Meanwhile, Iran's Guardian Council has acknowledged there were some irregularities in 50 districts, including more votes being cast than registered voters.

The council has insisted the irregularities would not have affected the overall vote.

Opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, has alleged widespread and systematic fraud.

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