Floods in Khuzestan Kill 11 - The number of people killed by floods in the southwestern province of Khuzestan rises to 11, a Red Cresent official says. Karbaschi Interrogated for Six Hours - Detained Tehran mayor Karbaschi was interrogated for six hours on Monday in his jail cell by the judge handling the case. In response to the detention of Tehran's mayor by the judiciary, Iran's Interior Minister Abdollah Nouri said the move could weaken the management system of the country. The MRM, a loose grouping of clerics supporting President Mohammad Khatami, expressed concern over the detention of the mayor. Najaf-Abad is the stronghold of Ayatollah Montazeri, the previously designated successor of Khomeini, who has been under house arrest for criticising the regime.
Security forces seem to be in control now after bloody clashes with the people in the streets.
There had been rumours about the people of Najaf-Abad reacting in support of Ayatollah Montazeri ever since he was put under house arrest, but until yesterday the rumours had not materialised. The mayor was scheduled to appear before an Iranian court on Saturday to answer charges of graft levelled against his administration. IRNA gave no further details in its brief report and Iran's afternoon television and radio news programmes made no mention of the case. Several hundred Iranians in Germany protested outside the Iranian embassy in Bonn today. The protest was marking the anniversary of the Mikunus trial, and was intended to highlight the plight of Iranian political prisoners.