DATE=02/09/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-272361

TITLE=IRAN / DEMO (L-O)

BYLINE=DALE GAVLAK

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: On the eve of the 22nd anniversary of Iran's Islamic Revolution, security forces have broken up a demonstration by an estimated three thousand anti-government protesters in Tehran. Witnesses reported that least 20 protesters were injured and dozens arrested. Dale Gavlak has the story.

TEXT: Before the security forces moved in, the protesters were chanting "Freedom of Thought Forever" and holding banners proclaiming their opposition to the country's Islamic regime. Some of them were also shouting slogans against Iran's leaders, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They booed when Islamic militia supporters shouted, "Khamenei is the leader, an heir to the Prophet Mohamed."

The protesters had gathered near Tehran's popular Parc Mellat. They said they were demonstrating against repression in the Islamic republic on the eve of the anniversary of the 1979 revolution. The rally is said to have been called by exiled opposition groups through radio broadcasts from abroad.

Large numbers of riot police and club-wielding members of the feared Basij Islamic militia, posted at the park before the gathering, charged at the demonstrators. Witnesses said the Islamic militiamen dragged many protesters behind police lines, where they beat them up before herding them onto buses. According to the witnesses, dozens of people were detained and driven away in police buses.

There were also reports that two strong explosions took place in the same area on Thursday night. There has been no official comment on the blasts, and no claim of responsibility.

Iran has been holding ten days of celebrations to mark the anniversary of the revolution that overthrew the country's Western-backed shah. (Signed)

NEB/DG/KL/FC