FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2003
Iranian exiles continue protests
AP
PARIS: Three more Iranians set themselves on fire on Thursday in European capitals to protest a crackdown on an exile group in France, and Paris police detained nearly 100 people to prevent further attempts at self-immolation.
A total of seven Iranians have set themselves afire in Paris and other European capitals since massive raids Tuesday on the French offices of the Mujahedeen Khalq, which fiercely opposes the Muslim clerical government in Iran.
The sweep Tuesday was aimed at preventing attacks by the group on Iranian diplomatic missions in Europe and elsewhere, France's counterintelligence chief has said. On Thursday, two Mujahedeen Khalq members set themselves afire in front of the French Embassy in Rome to protest the crackdown. Another set himself ablaze in Bern, Switzerland, after failing in an attempt the day before. The three were severely injured.
Maryam Rajavi, a co-leader of the Mujahedeen Khalq who was among 26 people still held in France after Tuesday's raids, urged protesters not to resort to suicidal methods. "I want to ask all of you now to refrain from self-immolation," a statement released by the organisation Thursday quoted her as saying.
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