TEHRAN A security official in the northwestern Province of West Azarbaijan, scene of a recent four-day visit by President Mohammad Khatami, refuted reports of violent demonstrations staged while he was delivering a speech in the province, the pro-reform daily Hayat-e No said on Wednesday.
"It was a negligible issue," Hossein Bigham, director general of political and security affairs of the provincial Governorate General was cited as saying.
He said that such incidents are not uncommon during mass gatherings of 10,000 people or more.
Bigham derided the press reports, saying they had made a "mountain out of a molehill".
The daily Resalat reported on Tuesday that more than 100 rioters smashed buses and robbed shopkeepers with knives during Khatami's speech Chanting "Freedom! Freedom!" and berating shop owners for not closing down to attend Khatami's speech on Saturday, gangs destroyed vehicles, and then broke into and robbed the city's gold bazaar, Resalat said.
(IRNA)