Page 27 - min.soc 9 jan,2016

WORLD NEWS 9
Iran holds mass protests against Saudi Arabia amid tensions
NASSER KARIMI
Associated Press
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Irani-
ans held mass protests on
Friday across the Islamic
Republic, angered by Sau-
di Arabia’s execution of a
Shiite cleric that has en-
flamed regional tensions
between the Mideast rivals.
Later in the day, the Iranian
foreign minister insisted in a
letter to the U.N. chief that
Tehran has no desire to es-
calate tensions and said
Saudis must make a “cru-
cial choice” — either con-
tinue supporting extremists
and promoting sectarian
hatred or promote good
neighborliness and region-
al stability.
The crisis has seen Saudi
Arabia sever ties with Iran
after crowds of protesters
in Iran attacked two of its
diplomatic posts on Sun-
day. Those assaults came
after Saudi Arabia execut-
ed Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a
prominent opposition Shiite
cleric, the day before.
After Friday prayers in Teh-
ran, thousands of worship-
pers joined the rally, car-
rying pictures of al-Nimr
and chanting “Death to
Al Saud,” referencing the
kingdom’s royal family.
They also chanted “Down
with the U.S.” and “Death
to Israel,” traditional Iranian
slogans at protests.
UN envoy in Syria to assure upcoming peace talks in Geneva
Associated Press
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) —
As a Saudi-Iran crisis roils the ping up their attacks and
Middle East, the U.N. spe-
cial envoy to Syria arrived
in Damascus on Friday to
lay the groundwork and
prepare the peace nego-
tiations between President
Bashar Assad’s government
and its opponents due later
this month in Geneva.
But Syrian opposition figures
insist it’s impossible to talk
The rally in Tehran lasted
some 40 minutes and took
place in an outdoor space
at the Mosalla Mosque, the
main site for Friday prayers
in Tehran.
Iranian state media re-
ported similar protests tak-
ing place in other Iranian
cities and towns. Shiites
across the greater Mideast
have rallied throughout the
week over al-Nimr’s execu-
tion.
Iranian Foreign Minister Ja-
vad Zarif said in a letter to
U.N. Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon obtained Friday
by The Associated Press
that Iran has “no desire or
interest in escalation of ten- diplomatic facilities in Ye-
sion in our neighborhood”
and hopes Saudi Arabia
will “heed the cause of rea-
son.”
Zarif said that from the first
days of President Hassan
Rouhani’s election, both
he and the president have
sent public and private
signals to Saudi Arabia
“about our readiness to en-
gage in dialogue and ac-
commodation to promote
regional stability and com-
bat destabilizing extremist
violence.”
But he also accused the
Saudis of trying to prevent
or defeat the nuclear deal
reached in July, of produc-
ing or mis-educating many
“extremist perpetrators of
peace when Syrian gov-
ernment forces are step-
laying siege to opposition-
held areas that leave Syr-
ians starving to death.
Staffan de Mistura’s visit
comes as the Saudi-Irani-
an rift has raised concerns
that the disagreements
between Riyadh and Teh-
ran — who support differ-
ent sides in Syria’s civil war in Geneva in 2014 failed to
— could derail efforts to
Saturday 9 January 2016
Iranian worshippers attend a rally to protest the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent
opposition Saudi Shiite cleric, after their Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 8, 2016.
Thousands of worshippers who took part in Friday prayers in Tehran joined the rally, carrying
pictures of al-Nimr and chanting “Death to Al Saud,” referencing the kingdom’s royal family.
Iranian state media reported similar protests taking place in other Iranian cities and towns. The
poster reads:”We all sacrifice for you Islam”.
(AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
acts of terror,” of support- nel, injuring a number of ciated Press reporter who
ing “extremist terrorists in Yemeni guards and inflict- reached the site just after
Syria and elsewhere,” and ing damage to the build- the announcement saw no
waging a “senseless war” in ings.” He did not specify damage to the building,
Yemen. where the killings, injuries which sits in a neighbor-
Zarif also accused Saudi and damage took place. hood near a presidential
authorities of engaging in Zarif also accused the Sau- palace that’s seen many
“numerous direct and at dis of persistently mistreat- previous strikes.
times lethal provocations ing Iraqi pilgrims, “fueling Iran vowed to file a report
against Iran.” He cited Sau- public outrage in Iran.” about their claim to the
di bombers hitting Iranian On Thursday, Iran claimed United Nations, while the
that a Saudi-led airstrike Saudi military issued a state-
men several times, includ- the previous night had hit ment through the king-
ing on April 24 and Sept. 18 the Iranian Embassy in Sa- dom’s state news agency,
last year and Jan. 7, “killing naa, citing Iran’s Foreign dismissing the allegation as
two local service person- Ministry. However, an Asso- false.q
negotiate a peace process though this round is seen The U.N. resolution made
for Syria led by the U.N., the as particularly urgent af- no mention of Assad’s fate
United States and Russia. ter the U.N. Security Coun- after the transitional period.
The U.N. is urging the sides cil passed a resolution last “The Saudi-Iranian esca-
in Syria’s five-year-conflict month endorsing a transi- lation of tension will have
to the negotiating table on tional plan for Syria. effects (on Geneva talks)
Jan. 25 in an effort to find Its passage was a rare since they are the two main
a resolution for the conflict show of unity among glob- regional powers ... in the
that has killed more than al powers, which have Syrian arena,” said Khaled
250,000 people and dis- backed opposing sides of al-Nasser, a member of the
placed half the country’s the conflict — Russia siding main Western-backed op-
population. Conferences with Assad and the United position group, the Syrian
States saying the Syrian National Coalition. “I am
bring about a settlement, leader should step down. pessimistic.”q