NCRI - In solidarity with the uprising in western and northwestern Iranian provinces against the clerical regime, students in Tehran University abandoned their lessons and held rallies, demonstrations and protest gatherings in the past few days.

Many covering their faces carried banners which read "death to dictator" and chanted anti-regime slogans.

Unrests in Azeri speaking provinces was sparked by an insulting cartoon in a state-run daily which rapidly turned political and against the clerical rulers. The regime had to declare a state of alert in these provinces. Dozens are reported to have been killed or wounded in clashes with suppressive forces in Tabriz, Orumieh, Naqadeh, Meshkinshahr and Maragheh and hundreds arrested.

According to a report by the Amnesty International some 300-500 thousand took part in demonstrations in Tabriz on Monday. AI expressed concern over the plight of hundreds of detainees.