Trump tweets 'world is watching' amid Iranian protests over Ukrainian plane shooting

Published Jan 12, 2020

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Tehran/London - Protests were reported late Saturday in several

parts of the Iranian capital Tehran over the shooting down of the

Ukrainian passenger plane by the Iranian military, according to

Iranian media.

Hundreds of people took part in Saturday night protest rallies

outside Tehran, Amir Kabir and Sharif, according to news agencies

IRNA and Isna. They criticized both the shooting down and the

day-long denials by Iranian authorities and the media.

According to Isna, some demonstrators outside Amir Kabir University

called for those responsible for the downing of the airliner to

resign.

Thousands of Iranians posted a black page on social media as a sign

of their grief and as a protest against the government. For them, the

shooting down of the passenger plane does irreparable damage to

Iran's image.

After days of vehement denials, Iran's Revolutionary Guard on

Saturday admitted it mistakenly shot down a Ukraine International

Airlines passenger plane outside Tehran this week, killing all 176

people on board, including 57 Canadians.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday voiced support for

anti-government protests in Iran just days after the two countries

stepped back from an escalated military conflict.

"We are following your protests closely, and are inspired by your

courage," Trump said in a tweet.

"The government of Iran must allow human rights groups to monitor and

report facts from the ground on the ongoing protests by the Iranian

people," Trump said.

"There can not be another massacre of peaceful protesters, nor an

internet shutdown. The world is watching," he added.

Among those taking part in the demonstrations was the UK ambassador,

who was reportedly detained briefly.

In London, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab accused Iran of a

"flagrant violation of international law" after it briefly detained

the British ambassador during anti-government protests on Saturday in

Teheran.

"The arrest of our ambassador in Teheran without grounds or

explanation is a flagrant violation of international law," Raab said

after reports that ambassador Rob Macaire was detained for more than

one hour.

"The Iranian government is at a crossroads moment," Raab said in a

statement.

"It can continue its march towards pariah status with all the

political and economic isolation that entails, or take steps to

de-escalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards."

DPA

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