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| Iran plane crash: Protesters condemn 'lies' on downed jet | Iran plane crash: Protesters condemn 'lies' on downed jet |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of protesters have taken to the streets in Iran's capital, Tehran, to vent anger at officials, calling them liars for having denied shooting down a Ukrainian passenger plane. | Hundreds of protesters have taken to the streets in Iran's capital, Tehran, to vent anger at officials, calling them liars for having denied shooting down a Ukrainian passenger plane. |
| Protests took place outside at least two universities, with tear gas reportedly fired. | Protests took place outside at least two universities, with tear gas reportedly fired. |
| US President Donald Trump tweeted support for the "inspiring" protests. | US President Donald Trump tweeted support for the "inspiring" protests. |
| Iran on Saturday admitted downing the jet "unintentionally", three days after the crash that killed 176 people. | Iran on Saturday admitted downing the jet "unintentionally", three days after the crash that killed 176 people. |
| Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752, en route to Kyiv, was shot down on Wednesday near Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran shortly after take-off, and only hours after Iran had fired missiles at two air bases housing US forces in Iraq. | Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752, en route to Kyiv, was shot down on Wednesday near Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran shortly after take-off, and only hours after Iran had fired missiles at two air bases housing US forces in Iraq. |
| Those attacks were Iran's response to the US killing of senior Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad on 3 January. | Those attacks were Iran's response to the US killing of senior Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad on 3 January. |
| Dozens of Iranians and Canadians, as well as nationals from Ukraine, the UK, Afghanistan and Sweden died on the plane. | |
| What happened at the protests? | What happened at the protests? |
| Students gathered outside at least two universities, Sharif and Amir Kabir, reports said, initially to pay respect to the victims. Protests turned angry in the evening. | Students gathered outside at least two universities, Sharif and Amir Kabir, reports said, initially to pay respect to the victims. Protests turned angry in the evening. |
| The semi-official Fars news agency carried a rare report of the unrest, saying up to 1,000 people had chanted slogans against leaders and tore up pictures of Soleimani. | The semi-official Fars news agency carried a rare report of the unrest, saying up to 1,000 people had chanted slogans against leaders and tore up pictures of Soleimani. |
| The students called for those responsible for the downing the plane, and those they said had covered up the action, to be prosecuted. | The students called for those responsible for the downing the plane, and those they said had covered up the action, to be prosecuted. |
| Chants included "commander-in-chief resign", referring to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and "death to liars". | Chants included "commander-in-chief resign", referring to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and "death to liars". |
| Fars said police had "dispersed" the protesters, who were blocking roads. Social media footage appeared to show tear gas being fired. | Fars said police had "dispersed" the protesters, who were blocking roads. Social media footage appeared to show tear gas being fired. |
| Social media users also vented anger at the government's actions. | Social media users also vented anger at the government's actions. |
| One wrote on Twitter: "I will never forgive the authorities in my country, the people who were on the scene and lying." | One wrote on Twitter: "I will never forgive the authorities in my country, the people who were on the scene and lying." |
| The protests were, however, far smaller than the mass demonstrations across Iran in support of Soleimani after he was killed. | The protests were, however, far smaller than the mass demonstrations across Iran in support of Soleimani after he was killed. |
| What has been the reaction? | What has been the reaction? |
| President Trump tweeted in both English and Farsi, saying: "To the brave and suffering Iranian people: I have stood with you since the beginning of my presidency and my government will continue to stand with you. | President Trump tweeted in both English and Farsi, saying: "To the brave and suffering Iranian people: I have stood with you since the beginning of my presidency and my government will continue to stand with you. |
| "We are following your protests closely. Your courage is inspiring." | "We are following your protests closely. Your courage is inspiring." |
| Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted video of the protests in Iran, saying: "The voice of the Iranian people is clear. They are fed up with the regime's lies, corruption, ineptitude, and brutality of the IRGC [Revolutionary Guards] under Khamenei's kleptocracy. We stand with the Iranian people who deserve a better future." | Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted video of the protests in Iran, saying: "The voice of the Iranian people is clear. They are fed up with the regime's lies, corruption, ineptitude, and brutality of the IRGC [Revolutionary Guards] under Khamenei's kleptocracy. We stand with the Iranian people who deserve a better future." |
| The UK's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab issued an angry statement after British ambassador Rob Macaire was arrested "without grounds or explanation" in a "flagrant violation of international law" at one of the protests in Tehran. | The UK's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab issued an angry statement after British ambassador Rob Macaire was arrested "without grounds or explanation" in a "flagrant violation of international law" at one of the protests in Tehran. |
| Mr Macaire was detained at the demonstration outside Amir Kabir and was later released. | Mr Macaire was detained at the demonstration outside Amir Kabir and was later released. |
| Mr Raab said Iran could "continue its march towards pariah status... or take steps to de-escalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards". | Mr Raab said Iran could "continue its march towards pariah status... or take steps to de-escalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards". |
| How did the Iranian admission unfold? | How did the Iranian admission unfold? |
| For three days, Iran had denied reports its missiles had brought down the plane, with one spokesman accusing Western nations of "lying and engaging in psychological warfare". | For three days, Iran had denied reports its missiles had brought down the plane, with one spokesman accusing Western nations of "lying and engaging in psychological warfare". |
| But on Saturday morning, a statement read on state TV accepted the plane had been shot down. | But on Saturday morning, a statement read on state TV accepted the plane had been shot down. |
| Brig-Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the Revolutionary Guards' aerospace commander, explained what happened. | Brig-Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the Revolutionary Guards' aerospace commander, explained what happened. |
| He said a missile operator had acted independently and alone, mistaking the plane for a "cruise missile" as there had been reports that such missiles had been fired at Iran. | He said a missile operator had acted independently and alone, mistaking the plane for a "cruise missile" as there had been reports that such missiles had been fired at Iran. |
| "He had 10 seconds to decide. He could have decided to strike or not to strike and under such circumstances he took the wrong decision," Gen Hajizadeh said. | "He had 10 seconds to decide. He could have decided to strike or not to strike and under such circumstances he took the wrong decision," Gen Hajizadeh said. |
| "He was obliged to make contact and get verification. But apparently, his communications system had some disruptions." | "He was obliged to make contact and get verification. But apparently, his communications system had some disruptions." |
| Gen Hajizadeh said the military would upgrade its systems to prevent such "mistakes" in the future. | Gen Hajizadeh said the military would upgrade its systems to prevent such "mistakes" in the future. |
| He said he had "wished he was dead" after being told of the missile strike. | He said he had "wished he was dead" after being told of the missile strike. |
| Gen Hajizadeh said he had informed the authorities about what had happened on Wednesday, raising questions about why Iran had denied involvement for so long. | Gen Hajizadeh said he had informed the authorities about what had happened on Wednesday, raising questions about why Iran had denied involvement for so long. |
| Ayatollah Khamenei said there was "proof of human error", while President Hassan Rouhani said Iran "deeply regrets this disastrous mistake". | Ayatollah Khamenei said there was "proof of human error", while President Hassan Rouhani said Iran "deeply regrets this disastrous mistake". |
| Foreign Minister Javad Zarif laid part of the blame on the US. "Human error at a time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to [this] disaster," he said. | Foreign Minister Javad Zarif laid part of the blame on the US. "Human error at a time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to [this] disaster," he said. |
| How have Canada and Ukraine reacted? | How have Canada and Ukraine reacted? |
| Both Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with Mr Rouhani on Saturday. | Both Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with Mr Rouhani on Saturday. |
| Mr Trudeau said he was "outraged and furious" and had told Mr Rouhani that there must be a full investigation with "full clarity on how such a horrific tragedy could have occurred". | Mr Trudeau said he was "outraged and furious" and had told Mr Rouhani that there must be a full investigation with "full clarity on how such a horrific tragedy could have occurred". |
| Mr Trudeau said: "Canada will not rest until we get the accountability, justice and closure the families deserve... they are hurt, angry and grieving and they want answers." | Mr Trudeau said: "Canada will not rest until we get the accountability, justice and closure the families deserve... they are hurt, angry and grieving and they want answers." |
| Mr Zelensky, who has demanded compensation and an apology, said Mr Rouhani had assured him that "all persons involved in this air disaster will be brought to justice". | Mr Zelensky, who has demanded compensation and an apology, said Mr Rouhani had assured him that "all persons involved in this air disaster will be brought to justice". |
| In the Canadian city of Edmonton, Pegah Salari is helping to organise a memorial service for the victims from the city on Sunday. | In the Canadian city of Edmonton, Pegah Salari is helping to organise a memorial service for the victims from the city on Sunday. |
| She says the latest admission by Iran means "now it's more than grief", first felt in the Iranian-Canadian community there. | She says the latest admission by Iran means "now it's more than grief", first felt in the Iranian-Canadian community there. |
| "It's anger, frustration," she said. | "It's anger, frustration," she said. |
| Many on the plane were living there, including 10 people - faculty members, students, and alumni - from the University of Alberta. | Many on the plane were living there, including 10 people - faculty members, students, and alumni - from the University of Alberta. |
| Ms Salari is openly critical and distrustful of the Iranian government and is watching news of the protests in Iran with both trepidation and hope. | Ms Salari is openly critical and distrustful of the Iranian government and is watching news of the protests in Iran with both trepidation and hope. |
| There are some in the Iranian diaspora in Canada who support the government in Tehran, which can cause tension, she said. | There are some in the Iranian diaspora in Canada who support the government in Tehran, which can cause tension, she said. |
| For the moment, that has been set aside, Ms Salari says. | For the moment, that has been set aside, Ms Salari says. |
| "It's not a political matter, it has nothing to do with economics. This for the first time is a human tragedy and all those lost lives has brought people closer and opened some eyes." | "It's not a political matter, it has nothing to do with economics. This for the first time is a human tragedy and all those lost lives has brought people closer and opened some eyes." |