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Iran police clash with protesters over currency crisis | Iran police clash with protesters over currency crisis |
(35 minutes later) | |
Riot police in Iran have clashed with protesters in the capital over sharp falls in the currency, the rial. | Riot police in Iran have clashed with protesters in the capital over sharp falls in the currency, the rial. |
Tear gas was used to disperse the demonstrators, some of whom were setting fire to tyres and rubbish bins. There were many arrests, reports say. | Tear gas was used to disperse the demonstrators, some of whom were setting fire to tyres and rubbish bins. There were many arrests, reports say. |
Eyewitnesses told the BBC that scores of people gathered outside the central bank, calling for the governor to stand down, chanting anti-government slogans. | Eyewitnesses told the BBC that scores of people gathered outside the central bank, calling for the governor to stand down, chanting anti-government slogans. |
The rial has plummeted to record lows against the US dollar in recent days. | The rial has plummeted to record lows against the US dollar in recent days. |
Money dealers were joined by traders from the nearby central bazaar, reports say. | Money dealers were joined by traders from the nearby central bazaar, reports say. |
Amateur video footage posted online appeared to show hundreds of people marching towards Iran's central bank. | Amateur video footage posted online appeared to show hundreds of people marching towards Iran's central bank. |
Eyewitnesses told BBC Persian that riot police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds. | |
Reports say many shops in the central Grand Bazaar have brought down their shutters in sympathy with the demonstrators. | Reports say many shops in the central Grand Bazaar have brought down their shutters in sympathy with the demonstrators. |
Traders are angry at the lack of direction from the government in the crisis, which they say has led to more instability in prices, making trading almost impossible, commentators say. | |
Arrests | Arrests |
The head of Tehran's bazaar unions, Ahmad Karimi-Esfahani, said shopkeepers had not opened their businesses as they were "worried about security" but he expected them to reopen on Thursday. | The head of Tehran's bazaar unions, Ahmad Karimi-Esfahani, said shopkeepers had not opened their businesses as they were "worried about security" but he expected them to reopen on Thursday. |
A protest outside the bazaar started with a small group and then grew, he told the Iranian Labour News Agency (Ilna). | A protest outside the bazaar started with a small group and then grew, he told the Iranian Labour News Agency (Ilna). |
One eyewitness, who gave his name only as Omid, told the BBC that the Sabze Maydon area within the bazaar was closed down and some shop windows were smashed. | One eyewitness, who gave his name only as Omid, told the BBC that the Sabze Maydon area within the bazaar was closed down and some shop windows were smashed. |
He said the government had closed the currency exchange shops, hoping to curtail the turmoil. | He said the government had closed the currency exchange shops, hoping to curtail the turmoil. |
A senior Iranian police commander confirmed to Ilna that "a limited number of people protested in front of the bazaar," but he said the bazaar was not closed. | A senior Iranian police commander confirmed to Ilna that "a limited number of people protested in front of the bazaar," but he said the bazaar was not closed. |
Hundreds of police are also reported to have rounded up and arrested illegal money changers in the capital. | Hundreds of police are also reported to have rounded up and arrested illegal money changers in the capital. |
Tehran's bazaar is traditionally the biggest financial ally of the Iranian regime. The bazaar is said to have bankrolled the 1979 Islamic revolution. | |
The political core of the bazaar is the Islamic Allied Society or Motalefeh, a political group loyal to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. | |
The protests were clearly targeting President Ahmadinejad's government, accusing it of mismanagement and inefficiency in curtailing Iran's currency crisis, says BBC Persian's Amir Paivar. | |
President Ahmadinejad has blamed Western sanctions for the fall in the rial, saying they amounted to an economic war. | |
However, many Iranians accuse him of financial mismanagement. | However, many Iranians accuse him of financial mismanagement. |
US officials say the slide reflects the success of US economic sanctions targeted at Iran's controversial nuclear programme. | US officials say the slide reflects the success of US economic sanctions targeted at Iran's controversial nuclear programme. |
Meanwhile, Ayatollah Khamenei said in a speech that the Iranian people would never submit to pressure from abroad. | |
Iran would put this crisis behind it, he was quoted by Iranian news agencies as saying. | Iran would put this crisis behind it, he was quoted by Iranian news agencies as saying. |
Are you in Tehran? Did you witness the unrest? Send us your accounts using the form below. | Are you in Tehran? Did you witness the unrest? Send us your accounts using the form below. |