Iranian security forces approach Azerbaijani border

Iranian security forces are resettling those living in villages close to the border with Azerbaijan. This was announced by Baku newspaper Zerkalo [mirror] with reference to Azerbaijani organisations operating in Iran.

According to the Azerbaijani newspaper, local people (mostly of Azerbaijani origin) will be resettled during the course of this week and their homes will be occupied by security forces and special army divisions. The soldiers are not only dressed in plain clothes, they are also reported to be using any means to frighten and coerce the local population into staying silent about the whole manoeuvre. Two thousand people living in the Iranian region of Mugan, in the north of the country and formerly a part of Azerbaijan, have already been moved from their homes.

There were mass arrests of Azerbaijanis living in the Iranian town of Tebris last week after an outbreak of protests.