Iran: Israel, US behind revolt
(Video) Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani says Westerns nations are attempting to destabilize Islamic Republic by orchestrating uprising that drew tens of thousands to Tehran streets Monday
"The parliament condemns the Zionist, American, anti-revolutionary and anti-national action of the misled seditionists," Larijani said during a parliament session.
Tens of thousands of Iranians rallied on Monday in support of the revolts sweeping across the Arab world, channeling their anger towards the Iranian regime. One protestor was killed and others were injured when clashes with the police broke out.
Opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi were placed under house arrest, thus prevented from attending the rallies.
Protestors in Tehran (Photo from Iranian blog)
'Death to Israel'
Larijani blamed the US for attempting to destabilize Iran and incite illegal demonstrations. In response to his claims, parliament members yelled out "Death to Israel," "Death to America," and called for the execution of Mousavi and Karroubi. Other lawmakers hung signs calling for the indictment of the opposition leaders, showing perhaps that the authorities in Tehran were not looking to escalate the tension.
"How did the gentlemen (Mousavi and Karroubi)... fall into the orchestrated trap of America?" Larijani asked during the session.
"Should they not have been cautious given the support, pleasure and joy of America and Israel as well as monarchists and Monafeghin?" Larijani added, referring to the outlawed People's Mujahedeen of Iran (PMOI).
Video documenting flow of security personnel to protest
'Mojahedin shot protestors'
Iranian Deputy Police Chief Ahmad Reza Radan was quoted by the Iranian FARS news agency as saying that he has information that proves that the US, Israel and England reached out to encourage protestors through phone calls. He stated that the US and Israel are worried because the governments in Egypt and Tunisia were overthrown.
He confirmed that one person was killed and nine security personnel members were injured, and claimed that the victims were shot by the PMOI.
Iranian site Akharin News identified the man who was killed as a 26-year-old art student. According to the report, he was shot in the head and died on the way to the hospital. Two others were critically injured in the same shooting.
Iranian exiles called on the protestors to continue demonstrating on Tueday, publishing meeting spots on their blogs and opening a special Facebook page dedicated to the revolt. According to messages on different social networks, the rallies were expected to resume on Tuesday evening, thought it was not clear whether the protestors would, in fact, return to the streets.
AFP contributed to this report
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