Uprising in Iran, Hardliner Candidate Resigns

March 14, 2004

According to sketchy reports, an uprising has occurred in the northern Iranian city of Fereydunkenar.

Demonstrations are reported to have begun on March 13, in the small town in the northern Iranian province of Mazandaran.

The demonstrators attacked and were able to liberate a building used by the Islamic Republic's security forces.

By midday, the uprising had begun to spread to the city of Babolsar, where demonstrators were confronted by Mazandaran's provincial security forces. At this hour, the town of Fereydunkenar appears divided between the rebels and the security forces.

Eyewitnesses have reported that approximately 5000 people were demonstrating when regime forces opened fire on the crowd. At least 5 people have been killed and scores injured with bullet wounds.

In the wake of the attack, the crowd briefly gained control of a police station and released previously arrested demonstrators. Reports also indicate that the home and office of a local Mullah had been torched.

The erruption occurred as a result of three suspicious confiscated ballot boxes that led to the hardline victory in the recent elections. Ironically the hardliner candidate had announced that he did not need the people's vote to get elected. The candidate, Moghdad Najaf Nejhad, has reportedly resigned in the wake of the uprising.

Report filed by Mike LaSalle