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Reports noted that two people were killed and several others wounded in clashes between protesters and security forces in central Tehran. On February 14, thousands of people gathered at Tehran's Azadi Square in solidarity with the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. This was their first major show of dissent since December 2009, when eight people were killed. Reports noted that many protesters chanted "Death to dictators". However, United States President Barack Obama has sharply criticised the Iranian authorities' response. Obama said the US could not dictate what went on inside Iran, but hoped people would have the "courage to be able to express their yearning for greater freedom and a more representative government". However, Iran's president dismissed the protests, saying they had wanted to undermine a rally held last Friday to mark the 32nd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.1
In another development, German government has confirmed that the Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle held a rare meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran during the release of two German journalists. It was first visit by a German Foreign Minister to Iran since before Ahmadinejad seized power in 2005. The two journalists, who had been detained since October, 2010 in link with a highly publicized stoning case, were released. However, the German government had dismissed the charges.2
- 1. “Iran protests 'going nowhere', says Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,” BBC News, February 15, 2011 at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12475824
- 2. “German foreign minister met with Ahmadinejad,” Khaleej Times, February 20, 2011 at http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2...