Police and hard-liners put down unrest in Tehran

July 8, 2000
Web posted at: 7:30 p.m. EDT (2330 GMT)

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Police fired tear gas and bullets Saturday at anti-government rioters who smashed windows of stores in the downtown business district while shouting slogans against Iran's Islamic regime.

Approximately 12 people were injured and scores were arrested.

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The violence started at 6 p.m. Saturday near Tehran University at Revolutionary Square, where 2,000 to 3,000 students had gathered in commemoration of the first anniversary of a police raid on a dormitory that left one student dead.

For the first two hours, the demonstration was largely festive.

But, within 15 minutes after students began chanting slogans against former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, hard-line vigilantes and riot police attacked the student group, wielding chains, clubs and sticks.

Some students escaped to the main street, where they mixed with non-students. The crowd began smashing windows in banks and liquor stores. Some people were beaten about their heads, though none appeared seriously injured.

Storekeepers shut their shops as soon as the melee began. Gunshots were heard, though it was not clear who was doing the shooting or what kind of bullets were being used.

More than a dozen people were taken away by ambulance.

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