DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - At least 17 people have been killed and many more wounded during anti-government protests in the western province of Kurdistan, a human rights group said.
Human Rights Watch blamed the casualties on Iranian security forces. Interior Ministry officials acknowledged deaths and detentions in the recent unrest in Kurdistan province, but they denied that the security forces fired on protesters.
"The Iranian government needs to conduct a full and impartial investigation into the violent response to the recent protests in Kurdistan," said Hadi Ghaemi, the Iran researcher for Human Rights Watch, which reported the deaths on Thursday.
Human Rights Watch charged that the casualties occurred when security forces opened fire on demonstrators in Mahabad who were protesting the killing of a young Kurdish man.
The protests spread to several towns and cities, including attacks on government buildings, the report stated.
The authorities say the rioters broke shop windows and set cars on fire.
Human Rights Watch said it obtained a list of 17 protesters killed. Residents told the human rights group that cities in Kurdistan remain surrounded by Revolutionary Guard troops and that undeclared martial law is in force.
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On the Net:
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