President Mohammad Khatami has delegated a team
to probe into recent unrest at a town in the southeast Kerman province
in which four people were killed and dozens others injured, Kerman
governor said on Monday, IRNA reported.
"Delegations from the Presidential Office, Interior Ministry and
Kerman Governor General's Office are examining the unrest in Shahr-e
Babak," said Seifollah Shahdad-Nejad, who put the toll at four people
killed and 40 others injured.
The casualties came after riot police fought a pitched battle to hold
protestors from rampaging state buildings, including police and the
governor's offices.
They followed a sit-in held by a group of disgruntled workers at a
copper smelting plant to protest their layoffs by their contractors, but
got ugly when a gang of 300 motorbikers started attacking state property
in the town.
Shahdad-Nejad did not rule out the work of 'mischief with the support
of a certain group' which led to the mayhem, saying the issue was being
investigated.
According to the governor, some of the wounded sustained their
injuries in clashes with the baton-wielding riot police, while others
were hurt by flying objects, thrown by the workers.
He said calm had been restored to the city and the situation was
under control.
On Monday, funeral processions are expected to be held for the dead
in Shahr-e Babak, which Shahdad-Nejad hoped, would pass off peacefully.