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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran opposition leaders defiant amid execution calls
2011-02-17
[Asharq al-Aswat] Iran's opposition leaders came out fighting on Wednesday amid calls they be executed over deadly protests in Tehran, issuing statements slamming the authorities and praising demonstrators.
Clashes also erupted Wednesday between government supporters and "apparent" supporters of the opposition at a funeral in Tehran of a person killed in the protests, with both sides claiming him as one of their own.

"Students and people participating in the funeral of martyr Sane'e Zhale in Tehran Fine Arts University are clashing with a few apparently from the sedition movement," the state television website said.

State media said festivities erupted when pro-regime backers, including members of parliament and Revolutionary Guards, held a demonstration during the funeral.

Zhale, a Sunni Kurd, became the centre of a dispute with regime-backers insisting he was a member of the volunteer Islamist Basij militia, while the opposition said he came from their ranks.

"This university student (Zhale) was shot around Enghelab Square by small arms fire. He was a student of fine arts and defender of the regime," said state news agency IRNA.

Opposition website Rahesabz.net said Zhale was "pro-Mousavi and a member of the Green Movement."

Iranian authorities have blamed the two leaders, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, for violence on Monday after they called for a rally which turned into deadly anti-government protests in which two people were killed and several were maimed.

Furious politicians and a leading holy man on Tuesday accused them of being behind the violence and said they should be hanged.

Karroubi, once a pillar of the regime, said in a statement posted on his website Sahamnews.org, he was ready to "pay any price."

"I declare that I am not afraid of any kind of threat and as a soldier of this great nation for the past almost 50 years, I am ready to pay any price," he said.

"I am warning that before it is too late, take out the buds from your ears and listen to the voice of the people. Forcing violence and opposing peoples' wishes will last only for a certain time," the holy man said.

He added that Iran's rulers must take "lessons from the destiny of those governments who distanced themselves from the people."
Posted by:Fred

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