New Iranian Protests Erupt Amid Continuing Outrage Over Downing Of Ukrainian Jet
Iranian students have protested outside several universities for a second day amid mounting outrage over officials' admission that an Iranian antiaircraft battery was responsible for downing a Ukrainian passenger jet.
Anti-government protests erupted again Sunday night in Iran fora second day of demonstrations against the military, which first denied and then admitted it mistakenly shot down a civilian Ukrainian plane, killing all 176 onboard.
The new protests came one day after Iran's military said that Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 was hit with two missiles fired in error by an Iranian air-defense unit manned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
Black-clad police, wearing protective riot helmets, massed iconic Azadi Square south of the city center and at other landmarks. The police were equipped with water cannons and batons and brandished paintball guns, potentially to mark protesters to authorities. But there were no immediate reports of any crackdown on the protests.
In an emotional speech before parliament, the head of the evolutionary Guard apologized for the missile attack on the Ukraine International Airlines jet and insisted it was a tragic mistake.
More demonstrations were reportedly scheduled for later on January 12, a day after similar events took place in at least five cities, including Tehran. Britain's ambassador, meanwhile, said he was detained briefly by Iranian authorities as he attended January 11 vigils for the victims of the crash.
At one of the January 11 demonstrations, the semiofficial Fars news agency said, some protesters ripped up photographs of major General Qasem Soleimani, the powerful military commander who was assassinated by a U.S. drone strike on
January 3 near Baghdad's airport.
Although saying its forces shot down the plane, Iran tried to put some of the blame on the United States. foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the incident occurred"at a time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism.
"Until the admission, Tehran had vehemently denied allegations by Western leaders and experts, and evidence that indicated an Iranian missile had brought down the plane.
The Ukraine International Airlines flight was en route to Kyiv, carrying 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, 10Afghans, three Germans, and three Britons.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, on Twitter, expressed "profound regrets" and apologized for the shoot-down of the Ukraine International Airlines jet. But he contended that'Human error at the time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster.
"U.S. national security adviser Robert O'Brien rejected Zarif'sclaim in an interview on the Fox News Sunday talk show, saying, "First they cover it up," then claimed the civilian aircraft veered toward a military base. He said Iran needs to investigate the accident, apologize for it, pay compensation to the victims'families and "make sure it never happens again.
"Saturday's demonstrations came two months after Iran cracked down on massive anti-government protests, brought about by an increase in the price of subsidized gasoline in November. Iran declined to release a death toll at the time, but AmnestyInternational said more than 300 people had been killed.
The downing of the UIA jetliner, a Boeing 737, happened just hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on Iraqi base housing U.S. soldiers in response to last week's U.S. drone attack that killed Iranian Quds Force Commander Gen. QassemSoleimani.
Anti-government protests erupted again Sunday night in Iran fora second day of demonstrations against the military, which first denied and then admitted it mistakenly shot down a civilian Ukrainian plane, killing all 176 onboard.
The new protests came one day after Iran's military said that Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 was hit with two missiles fired in error by an Iranian air-defense unit manned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
Black-clad police, wearing protective riot helmets, massed iconic Azadi Square south of the city center and at other landmarks. The police were equipped with water cannons and batons and brandished paintball guns, potentially to mark protesters to authorities. But there were no immediate reports of any crackdown on the protests.
In an emotional speech before parliament, the head of the evolutionary Guard apologized for the missile attack on the Ukraine International Airlines jet and insisted it was a tragic mistake.
More demonstrations were reportedly scheduled for later on January 12, a day after similar events took place in at least five cities, including Tehran. Britain's ambassador, meanwhile, said he was detained briefly by Iranian authorities as he attended January 11 vigils for the victims of the crash.
At one of the January 11 demonstrations, the semiofficial Fars news agency said, some protesters ripped up photographs of major General Qasem Soleimani, the powerful military commander who was assassinated by a U.S. drone strike on
January 3 near Baghdad's airport.
Although saying its forces shot down the plane, Iran tried to put some of the blame on the United States. foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the incident occurred"at a time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism.
"Until the admission, Tehran had vehemently denied allegations by Western leaders and experts, and evidence that indicated an Iranian missile had brought down the plane.
The Ukraine International Airlines flight was en route to Kyiv, carrying 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, 10Afghans, three Germans, and three Britons.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, on Twitter, expressed "profound regrets" and apologized for the shoot-down of the Ukraine International Airlines jet. But he contended that'Human error at the time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster.
"U.S. national security adviser Robert O'Brien rejected Zarif'sclaim in an interview on the Fox News Sunday talk show, saying, "First they cover it up," then claimed the civilian aircraft veered toward a military base. He said Iran needs to investigate the accident, apologize for it, pay compensation to the victims'families and "make sure it never happens again.
"Saturday's demonstrations came two months after Iran cracked down on massive anti-government protests, brought about by an increase in the price of subsidized gasoline in November. Iran declined to release a death toll at the time, but AmnestyInternational said more than 300 people had been killed.
The downing of the UIA jetliner, a Boeing 737, happened just hours after Iran launched a ballistic missile attack on Iraqi base housing U.S. soldiers in response to last week's U.S. drone attack that killed Iranian Quds Force Commander Gen. QassemSoleimani.
Comments
Post a Comment