Riots resumed in South Azerbaijan

Yesterday, 10 persons were arrested in Dzhulfa, Iran, for hoisting the flag of South Azerbaijan. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed about it at the Baku office of the Movement of National Awakening of South Azerbaijan (MNASA).

They have also noted there that disturbances also took place in Tabriz, the largest city of South Azerbaijan.

The protests were caused by arrest of Nadir Mekhdi Garabagi, a student of local university, for participation in the action on the anniversary of the events on May 22, 2006. The participants of protest actions demand immediate release of Garabagi; they shout out patriotic slogans and perform Azerbaijani songs and marches.

In protest against repressions in South Azerbaijan, today, a group of activists of the Party of National Independence of Azerbaijan (PNIA) have tried to hold a picket in front of Iranian Embassy in Baku. The resolution of the picket moved a demand to put an end to repressions against Azerbaijanis, release the arrested activists of the national movement, and recognize the rights of the Turkomen of South Azerbaijan, stipulated in the Constitution of Iran and international conventions. In the course of the action, 5 protesters were detained. They were warned and set free.