Protesters reportedly burn images of ayatollah, other clerical leaders
Iranian young people staged anti-government protests in Tehran and other cities across the country today, using the annual Persian "fire festival" celebration to burn effigies and pictures of the country's leaders and set cars ablaze belonging to the State Security Forces, according to the London-based independent news agency Iran Focus.
In the southwestern city of Ahwaz protestors set fire to an effigy of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Similar demonstrations were reported in Garmsar, southeast of Tehran, and in the southern city of Rafsanjan.
Youth in Tehran reportedly burned pictures of Khamenei and Islamic revolution founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, according to dissidents who reported to Iran Focus.
The independent news service said it received a photo from the protesters who set fire to pictures of leaders that had been placed on lampposts along Tehran's Mirdamad Street.
The demonstrations were part of the traditional "fire festival" celebration, or "Feast of Wednesday," on the last day of the Persian year, in which people jump over bonfires to "drive away evil."
Iran Focus said the demonstrations took place despite a massive crackdown by the country's paramilitary police to prevent people from turning tonight's festival into organized anti-government protests.
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