Hundreds of Iranian hardline Islamic vigilantes, police and pro-democracy youths fought running street battles near Tehran University on Wednesday, the anniversary of violent 1999 student unrest. A witness said police fired tear gas at groups of youths near the campus and also fought fist fights with plainclothes Islamic militiamen to prevent them from engaging in further battles with the pro-democracy youths. “The atmosphere is very tense, the smell of tear gas is thick in the air. Police have clashed with youths, the youths have fought with Basijis and I saw police fighting Basijis trying to get closer to the university,” the witness said. The Basij militiamen, identifiable only by their trademark beards, clubs and untucked shirts, are fiercely loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s most powerful figure. Full Story
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