LONDON: Anti-government protesters demonstrated in Iran on Sunday indefiance of a warning by authorities of a tough crackdown, extending for afourth day one of the most audacious challenges to the clerical leadershipsince pro-reform unrest in 2009.
Giving his first public reaction to the protests, President Hassan Rouhaniappealed for calm, saying Iranians had the right to protest and criticizethe authorities.
But he warned, according to official media: “The government will show notolerance for those who damage public properties, violate public order andcreate unrest in the society.”
Tens of thousands of people have protested across the country sinceThursday against the Islamic Republic’s government and clerical elite.
Police in the center of Tehran fired water cannon to try to dispersedemonstrators, according to pictures on social media.
Demonstrations turned violent in Shahin Shahr in central Iran. Videosshowed protesters attacking the police, turning over a car and setting iton fire. Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of thefootage.
There were also reports of demonstrations in the cities of Sanandaj andKermanshah in western Iran as well as Chabahar in the southeast and Ilamand Izeh in the southwest.
Demonstrators initially vented their anger over economic hardships andalleged corruption, but the protests took on a rare political dimension,with a growing number of people calling on Supreme Leader Ayatollah AliKhamenei to step down.
Iranian security forces appear to have shown restraint to avoid anescalation of the crisis. Two people have been killed and hundreds arrested.
The protests are the biggest since unrest in 2009 that followed thedisputed re-election of then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Videos showed people in central Tehran chanting: “Down with the dictator!”in an apparent reference to Khamenei.
Protesters in Khorramabad in western Iran shouted: “Khamenei, shame on you,leave the country alone!”
The government said it would temporarily restrict access to the Telegrammessaging app and Instagram, owned by Facebook Inc, state television quotedan informed source as saying.
An Iranian reached by telephone, who asked not to be named, said there wasa heavy presence of police and security forces in the heart of the capital.
“I saw a few young men being arrested and put into police van. They don’tlet anyone assemble,” he said.
A video showed a protester being arrested by police while a crowd shouted:“Police, go and arrest the thieves!” in the northwestern city of Khoy.
In the western town of Takestan, demonstrators set ablaze a Shi‘ite Muslimseminary and the offices of the local Friday prayers leader, statebroadcaster IRIB’s website said. Police dispersed protesters, arrestingsome, ILNA news agency said.