Sannandaj riots result in several deaths

SMCCDI (Information Service):

Aug 2, 2005

At least 4 demonstrators and members of the security forces were killed in the violent clashes that rocked, yesterday, the northwestern City of Sannandaj.

The riots started as the Islamic regime forces attacked peaceful demonstrators in the Independence Park and in front of the Governor's Office. Soon, the protest action lead to scattered riots affecting other areas of the city, such as, Enghelab, Azadi ('Freedom'), Khomeini and Ferdowsi.

Tens of public buildings and security patrol cars were set ablaze or heavily damaged by the demonstrators who were shouting slogans against the regime and its leadership, such as, , "Marg bar Jomhoori e Eslami" (Down with Islamic Republic), "Marg Bar Estebdad" (Down with dictatorship), "Rahbar boro Gom Sho" (Supreme Leader Get Lost), "Iran Azad, Azad Iran" (Iran Free, Free Iran) were shouted by demonstrators in the local Kurdish and in Persian languages.

Noise of shoot out and tear gas explosion continued till late night.

Several security agents were disarmed by residents in ambushes created in narrow streets. Female demonstrators were forcing the agents to follow them into streets were masked armed opponents were disarming the militiamen.

The situation inSannandaj is very tense and more unrest is expected to take place. Other northwestern cities, such as, Marivan, Baneh, Mian-Do-Ab, Marivan, Oshnovieh have been, for the last two weeks, the daily scenes of riots and _expression of exasperation against an unpopular regime notorious for Human Rights abuses. Demonstrations leading to scattered clashes have been taking place following the publication of the mutilated body of a killed young activist who was arrested on July 9th.

Several demonstrators and security agents have been killed so far and tens of public buildings have been damaged.

It's to note that more and more of region's residents are resorting to protest following President Bush's wise statement on the "need of respecting the territorial integrity of Iran". Till then, most residents of the Iranian provinces of Kurdistan and W. Azarbaijan were fearing to become indirect tools in service of few independentist groups who are targeting to split them from Iran.