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Iran Acknowledges Security Forces Killed Protesters in Nationwide Unrest

Reuters

   DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Iranian authorities confirmed for the
   first time on Tuesday that security forces had shot dead demonstrators
   during what rights groups have said was the deadliest anti-government
   unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

   State television acknowledged killings of protesters, without giving
   figures, some hours before U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran "is
   killing perhaps thousands and thousands of people right now as we
   speak".

   The unrest, which began on Nov. 15 after the government abruptly raised
   fuel prices by as much as 300%, rapidly spread to over 100 cities and
   towns and turned political with young and working-class protesters
   demanding clerical leaders step down.

   Protests were snuffed out last week by a security crackdown.

   Amnesty International said in a statement on Monday that "extensive
   video footage verified and analyzed" by the organization's digital
   verification wing showed "security forces shooting at unarmed
   protesters".

   State TV said: "Rioters were armed with knives and weapons.

   They had taken people hostage by closing all roads in some areas.
   Security forces had no other choice but to firmly confront them...and
   rioters were killed in clashes."

   Iran has provided no official death toll, but Amnesty said it had
   documented the deaths of at least 208 protesters, making the
   disturbances the bloodiest since the 1979 uprising that toppled the
   U.S.-backed shah and swept Shi'ite clerics to power.
   

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