Page 11 - AT

A11
WORLD NEWS Thursday 5 december 2019

Iran leader calls for

'Islamic mercy' after

bloody crackdown

By JON GAMBRELL those who are suspected
Associated Press of being close to any group
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- should be dealt with in a
ates (AP) — Iran's supreme way that is closer to Islamic
leader called Wednesday mercy," Khamenei said, ac-
for those detained in re- cording to IRNA.
cent gasoline price pro- Khamenei also said citi-
tests to be treated with zens killed in the protests
"Islamic mercy" even after "without playing any part
authorities acknowledged in instigating them" should
government forces shot be considered martyrs and
and killed demonstrators their families should receive In this Nov. 27, 2019, file photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme
nationwide in unrest that government stipends. leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waves to members of the Revolutionary Guard's
reportedly killed over 200 Those "killed in shootouts all-volunteer Basij force in a meeting in Tehran, Iran.
people. with security forces" also Associated Press
The comments by Ayatol- should have their back-
lah Ali Khamenei, who has grounds examined, he fourth-largest crude oil re- economic woes. That dis- oil wealth, fueled the anger
final say over all state mat- said. serves despite decades of parity, especially given its felt by demonstrators.q
ters in the Islamic Republic, Authorities should "console
appear to signal how much those families that have
the mid-November protests never had any criminal Algeria: 2 ex-ministers face
shook the pillars of power in backgrounds," IRNA said,
the theocracy. paraphrasing Khamenei. groundbreaking corruption trial
Amnesty International be- Khamenei's comments soft-
lieves at least 208 people en earlier remarks he made By AOMAR OUALI "corruption and the misap- corruption and reforming
were killed in the protests immediately after the pro- Associated Press propriation of public funds" themselves — and per-
and security force crack- tests swept across 100 cities ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — and both deny any wrong- suade them to go out and
down that followed. Iran and towns. Two former Algerian prime doing. vote next week.
disputes Amnesty's figures Amnesty's death toll of ministers went on trial Two former industry min- Corruption is a key issue
but has so far refused to re- at least 208 makes it the Wednesday on corruption isters who served under for Algeria's peaceful,
lease any nationwide ca- bloodiest unrest in Iran charges, in the most high- Bouteflika, influential car in- 9-month-old protest move-
sualty or arrest figures. since the time of the Is- profile act of transparency dustry executives, bankers ment, which considers the
The demonstrations show lamic Revolution. The 2009 and accountability since and other businessmen are election a sham because
the widespread economic Green Movement protests a pro-democracy move- also facing charges. it's organized by the exist-
discontent gripping Iran that followed a disputed ment pushed out the long- The Dec. 12 presidential ing power structure.
since May 2018, when presidential election drew serving president. election is looming over the Protesters want a whole
President Donald Trump im- millions to the streets but The exceptional trial, which trial. Algerians are voting new political system in-
posed crushing sanctions saw far less killing. is being televised and also for a new president after stead.
after unilaterally withdraw- The demonstrations be- involves several other for- Bouteflika, who was in of- "Only the people can judge
ing the United States from gan Nov. 15 after the gov- mer Algerian power play- fice for two decades, was whether we have the will
the nuclear deal that Teh- ernment raised minimum ers, comes at a time of re- forced out in April. to combat corruption,"
ran struck with world pow- gasoline prices by 50% to newed political tensions in The trial was boycotted Justice Minister Belkacem
ers. That decision has seen 15,000 Iranian rials per li- the oil and gas-rich coun- by defense lawyers, who Zeghmati told lawmakers
Iran begin to break limits of ter. That's 12 cents a liter, try, a week ahead of a stayed away because they ahead of the trial, describ-
the deal, as well as a se- or about 50 cents a gal- controversial election to re- felt conditions were not ing the alleged corruption
ries of attacks across the lon. After a monthly 60-liter place President Abdelaziz met for a fair trial. as "going beyond all com-
Mideast that America has quota, it costs 30,000 rials a Bouteflika. Much of the questioning prehension."
blamed on Tehran. liter. That's nearly 24 cents a Ahmed Ouyahia, who was involved a car manufac- Bouteflika, whose health
The state-run IRNA news liter or 90 cents a gallon. An forced out as prime min- turing corruption scandal, condition has remained a
agency quoted Khame- average gallon of regular ister in March as protests allegedly involving huge mystery since a 2013 stroke,
nei as responding to a re- gas in the U.S. costs $2.58 against Bouteflika esca- bribes, inflated invoices has not been seen in public
port on the unrest from the by comparison, according lated, and his predecessor and dodgy loans. since he left power. Jeune
country's Supreme National to AAA. Abdelmalek Sellal, testi- Algerian authorities are Afrique magazine report-
Security Council. Cheap gasoline is practi- fied Wednesday at the Sidi hoping the trial helps con- ed that he is staying in his
"The faster these cases are cally considered a birthright M'Hamed court in Algiers. vince the public that they home in Zeralda under full-
considered, the better and in Iran, home to the world's Both are charged with are serious about fighting time medical care.q