(21 Aug 1998) Farsi/Nat
More than a thousand students demonstrated outside the U-N offices in Tehran on Wednesday demanding the release of Iranians held in Afghanistan.
The march comes as anger reaches boiling point over hostages allegedly held by Afghanistan's Taleban Islamic movement.
Iranian officials have warned that if the U-N doesn't intervene, it will resort to force to free their captured citizens.
Dozens of riot police surrounded the U-N building in Tehran as protesters chanted "Death to Taliban" and "Death to America."
Iran has accused the Taleban, a leading fundamental Islamic force in Afghanistan's civil war, of detaining 47 Iranians since it captured the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif on 8 August this year.
Tehran has also accused the United States and Pakistan of supporting the Taleban.
The students unfurled banners reading "We demand the immediate release of our loved ones" and "We condemn the political and military interference of Pakistan in
Afghanistan".
In a statement, the protesters said the United Nations had done nothing to obtain the Iranians' release and called on their government to carry out a military rescue operation.
UPSOUND (Farsi)
"The U-N must understand that if it does not comply with its legal obligations and humanistic responsibilities in freeing our captives, then a dark future awaits it. The nature and essence of the existence of the U-N is to guard the rights of the innocence of the world."
SUPER CAPTION: Representative for the families of the captives
Families of the captives also addressed the crowds, demanding that the Taleban release their loved ones.
UPSOUND: (Farsi)
"We warn the reactionary forces of the Taleban and their supporters that it will be in their best interests to stop their dirty actions by releasing our hostages so they can return to their Islamic homeland with honour."
SUPER CAPTION: Captive's wife
Others made their message simple but clear.
SOUNDBITE: (Farsi)
"My father has been taken captive by the Taleban for 12 days. I wish that the United Nations would help to free my dad and other diplomats."
SUPER CAPTION: Mehdi Ghiasi, son of captive diplomat
The demonstration followed a smaller protest on Tuesday when about two dozen relatives of the detainees stood outside the U-N offices.
Iran's former President Hashemi Rafsanjani, who now heads a government advisory council, warned on Tuesday that Iran might resort to force to free the Iranians, who include 11 diplomats, one journalist and 35 drivers for an international transport company.
Iran's deputy foreign minister, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said that an Iranian official had met the truck drivers in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar on Sunday.
Boroujerdi, who is responsible for Afghan affairs, said the official found the drivers to be in good health, but the Taleban did not allow him to meet the diplomats and correspondent, Iran's state television reported.
Iran has said it holds Pakistan responsible for the detainees' safety.
Islamabad is widely believed to provide arms and other support to the Taleban.
Iran itself is widely suspected of backing the northern based opposition to the Taleban.
The Taleban says it knows nothing about the Iranian diplomats, but it admits to holding some 30 Iranians suspected of arming its opponents.
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