After days of unrest in Iran, Parliament president Ali Larijani has asked authorities for a complete clarification of action against demonstrators. "We do not want rights of people to be violated only because y express criticism," said Laridschanis spokesman Behrus Nemati after a special session of Parliament, which took place at request of reformers. If re were errors in arrests, y would have to be corrected immediately, Nemati said.

In afternoon, surprisingly dozens of demonstrators were released from prison. Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jaafari Dolatabadi announced that 70 demonstrators had been released. "This trend (release) is to be continued," he said according to news agency Isna. However, leaders of riots and troublemakers were excluded.

Official information on exact number of detainees was also not available on Sunday – speech is from 1,000 to 1,800, including almost 100 students. According to most recent police figures, re were 18 deaths. In addition, a man and his son died in an accident during riots. There had been talk of 21 killed before.

"The government must put demands of demonstrators on ir agenda and carefully review m," demanded Nemati. Police and Secret Service should immediately present to Parliamentary Security Commission a detailed report on riots and arrests, spokesman demanded on television.

The parliamentary debate programme called for reform group to provide adequate legal assistance to detained demonstrators, especially students among m. At crisis meeting behind closed doors, media reports also took part in interior minister, Secret Service chief, several commanders of police and Revolutionary Guard, Director of State television and Secretary of Security Council.

According to Nemati, it was particularly important for Parliament president Larijani that protests do not endanger national unity of country. Therefore, furr tensions should be avoided. Reformers in country feared that riots could be used by hardliners as a pretext to make up for moderate course of government sentiment.

From Hardlinerkreisen it is always to be heard that high inflation was trigger of riots. In ir estimation, criticism of people is refore mainly directed against economic policy of Government of President Hassan Ruhani. The reform-oriented president admitted shortcomings, but vehemently rejected economic problems as catalyst for protests. Ruhani and reformers, protests also considered hardliners. These blocked implementation of reforms in country.

Prosecutor Dolatabadi also warned against an internal political power struggle. "That was exactly intention of our enemies," he said. They wanted to provoke and thus create a "climate of mistrust". All in Iran should work to make sure that this goal is not achieved, says Dolatabadi.

Gabriel calls for serious dialogue

On Sunday night re were no reports of new protests. For this, re was once again nationally organized rallies of regime supporters. According to state television, hundreds of thousands condemned "foreign conspiracy" and emphasized ir solidarity with Islamic leadership of country. Posters were to be seen against reform government of President Ruhani and Ruhani-critical slogans were heard.

Federal Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel warned against external political exploitation of internal Iranian disputes. "To exploit confrontation in Iranian society, we can only warn against this," said SPD politician of picture on Sunday with a view to recent protests. At same time Gabriel called for a "clear and serious dialogue" with government in Tehran. One has to talk about " problematic Iranian influence in region and missile program". Constructive signals are urgently indicated. Similarly, France's president Emmanuel Macron had spoken before.

In UN Security Council on Friday, representatives of Russia and United States were in dispute as to how far one should interfere in internal Iranian concerns. The Russian representative described convening of an emergency meeting as exaggerated and pleaded for Iran to "handle its own problems".

At rallies in Berlin and Hamburg, hundreds of people showed solidarity with demonstrators in Iran on weekend. Incidents occurred at Iranian Consulate General in Frankfurt am Main. According to police figures from Sunday, two Iranians threw around 20 eggs on Saturday evening at Consulate General. Moreover, at night, an Iranian burned a flammable liquid on ground in front of entrance door. He was arrested. State protection.

The protests in Iran had begun in city of Mashhad on 28 December and extended to whole country within a few days. The protest was directed against economic ills such as high unemployment and high cost of living, but also against foreign policy of government and clerical regime.

Date Of Update: 08 January 2018, 12:02