DATE=7/14/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251750
TITLE=IRAN DEMONSTRATIONS (L)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  SUPPORTERS OF THE IRAN'S CONSERVATIVE RELIGIOUS 
GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATED (WEDNESDAY) TO COUNTER PRO-REFORM RALLIES
HELD DURING THE PAST FEW DAYS.  RICHARD ENGEL AT OUR MIDDLE EAST 
BUREAU REPORTS THE NEW DEMONSTRATIONS CLEARLY SHOW THE DEEP 
DIVIDE BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT REFORM AND THOSE WHO OPPOSE IT.

TEXT:  TENS-OF-THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GATHERED IN TEHRAN TO SHOW 
THEIR SUPPORT FOR IRAN'S CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT.  MANY OF THE 
DEMONSTRATORS HELD PHOTOGRAPHS OF IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER, 
AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENI.

THE RALLY WAS DESIGNED TO COUNTER THE PAST SIX-DAYS OF PRO-REFORM
PROTESTS LED BY STUDENTS AND OTHER SUPPORTERS OF IRAN'S MODERATE 
PRESIDENT MOHAMMED KHATAMI.

THOSE PROTESTS HAD AT TIMES TURNED INTO NEAR RIOTS IN THE PAST 
TWO-DAYS.  THE PRO-REFORM DEMONSTRATORS REPEATEDLY CLASHED WITH 
POLICE WHO HAD ORDERS TO DISPERSE THEM.

DEMONSTRATORS IN WEDNESDAY'S PRO-GOVERNMENT RALLY MARCHED PAST 
TEHRAN UNIVERSITY, WHERE THE PRO-REFORM PROTESTS HAD BEEN 
CENTERED, AND THEN DISPERSED PEACEFULLY AFTER ABOUT TWO-HOURS.

THE PRO-GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATION WAS ORGANIZED BY HARDLINE 
CLERICS IN IRAN.  THE SECRETARY OF IRAN'S NATIONAL SECURITY 
COUNCIL, HASAN ROWHANI, TOLD THE CROWDS THE RECENT STUDENT-LED 
DEMONSTRATIONS WERE THE RESULT OF A PLOT BY ENEMIES OF IRAN, 
CHIEF AMONG THEM, HE SAID, THE UNITED STATES.

IT IS THE SAME ARGUMENT AYATOLLAH KHAMENI HAS MADE DURING THE 
PAST FEW DAYS.  LEADERS OF THE RALLY ALSO SAID STUDENT 
DEMONSTRATORS INVOLVED IN VANDALISM SHOULD BE TRIED AS ENEMIES OF
THE STATE -- A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY DEATH.

STUDENT LEADERS SAID THEY WOULD  NOT  ATTEND THE RALLY.  BUT THEY
ALSO TRIED TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THE VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM
THAT ERUPTED DURING THEIR PROTESTS.

MANY ANALYSTS WERE IMPRESSED BY THE SCALE AND INTENSITY OF THE 
PRO-REFORM SENTIMENT EXPRESSED DURING THE PAST FEW DAYS, BUT THEY
SAID THE PRO-GOVERNMENT RALLY SHOWS MODERATES STILL HAVE A TOUGH 
BATTLE AHEAD.

HARDLINERS CONTROL KEY BASES OF POWER IN IRAN, INCLUDING THE 
ARMED FORCES, RADIO AND TELEVISION, INTELLIGENCE SERVICE, 
LEGISLATURE AND POLICE.   (SIGNED)

NEB/RHE/JWH/RAE

14-Jul-99 9:04 AM EDT (1304 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.