By Michael Georgy, Reuters
DUBAI, Jan 4 (Reuters) – Iran’s army chief said on Thursday police forces had already quelled anti-government unrest that has killed 21 people but that his troops were ready to intervene if needed, official media reported, as new state-sponsored pro-government rallies were held.
The anti-government demonstrations, which seem to be spontaneous and without a clear leader, erupted a week ago in Iran’s second city of Mashhad over economic hardships – mostly youth unemployment and alleged corruption.
“Although this blind sedition was so small that a portion of the police force was able to nip it in the bud … you can rest assured that your comrades in the Islamic Republic’s army would be ready to confront the dupes of the Great Satan (United States),” Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi was quoted as saying.
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