
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.



