Photos: Protests erupt in Iran after military admits downing plane

By HT Correspondent

Updated On Jan 13, 2020 06:51 pm IST

The Iranian military on Saturday apologised for mistakenly bringing down the Ukrainian plane on January 15, killing all 176 aboard. Protesters piled pressure on Iran's leadership on Sunday with demands for top authorities to quit after the Iranian military’s confession at a time when it had feared US strikes. Iran's president said it was a "disastrous mistake". But a top Revolutionary Guards commander added to public fury when he said he had told the authorities on the same day as the crash that an Iranian missile had struck the plane.

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Demonstrators raise slogans during a vigil for the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight that was unintentionally shot down by the Iranian military, in Tehran. Iran on January 11 admitted it unintentionally shot down a Ukrainian jetliner that it mistook for a cruise missile, a dramatic reversal after days of denials that triggered international condemnation and protests in the streets of Tehran. (Ali Mohammadi/Bloomberg)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 06:51 pm IST

Demonstrators raise slogans during a vigil for the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight that was unintentionally shot down by the Iranian military, in Tehran. Iran on January 11 admitted it unintentionally shot down a Ukrainian jetliner that it mistook for a cruise missile, a dramatic reversal after days of denials that triggered international condemnation and protests in the streets of Tehran. (Ali Mohammadi/Bloomberg)

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Demonstrators light candles for the victims during a vigil. “They are lying that our enemy is America, our enemy is right here,” dozens of protesters chanted outside a university in Tehran. Scores of demonstrators were also seen gathered in other cities. (Bloomberg)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 06:51 pm IST

Demonstrators light candles for the victims during a vigil. “They are lying that our enemy is America, our enemy is right here,” dozens of protesters chanted outside a university in Tehran. Scores of demonstrators were also seen gathered in other cities. (Bloomberg)

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Tehran residents told Reuters—police were out in force in the capital on Sunday, as public anger boiled up following days of denials by the military that it was to blame, even as Canada and the United States said a missile had brought the plane down. (Bloomberg)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 06:51 pm IST

Tehran residents told Reuters—police were out in force in the capital on Sunday, as public anger boiled up following days of denials by the military that it was to blame, even as Canada and the United States said a missile had brought the plane down. (Bloomberg)

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Riot police fired tear gas at thousands of protesters in the capital on Saturday, where many had chanted “Death to the dictator”, directing their anger at the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Bloomberg)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 06:51 pm IST

Riot police fired tear gas at thousands of protesters in the capital on Saturday, where many had chanted “Death to the dictator”, directing their anger at the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Bloomberg)

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A woman attending a candle-light vigil to remember the victims of the Ukraine plane crash, speaks to a policeman asking for his sympathy, at the gate of Amri Kabir University in Tehran. (Mona Hoobehfekr/AP)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 06:51 pm IST

A woman attending a candle-light vigil to remember the victims of the Ukraine plane crash, speaks to a policeman asking for his sympathy, at the gate of Amri Kabir University in Tehran. (Mona Hoobehfekr/AP)

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A pool of blood is seen near Azadi Square after police broke up a demonstration in Tehran. The Ukraine Airlines plane was shot down minutes after taking off from Tehran on Wednesday, when Iranian forces were on alert for US reprisals following tit-for-tat strikes. Many of those on board were Iranians with dual citizenship, while 57 were holders of Canadian passports. (AP)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 06:51 pm IST

A pool of blood is seen near Azadi Square after police broke up a demonstration in Tehran. The Ukraine Airlines plane was shot down minutes after taking off from Tehran on Wednesday, when Iranian forces were on alert for US reprisals following tit-for-tat strikes. Many of those on board were Iranians with dual citizenship, while 57 were holders of Canadian passports. (AP)

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Public fury at Iran’s authorities had grown as questions about the plane crash mounted. Iranians on social media asked why officials were busy fending off criticism from abroad rather than sympathising with grieving families. Others asked why the plane was allowed to take off at a time of high tension. (Bloomberg)

Updated on Jan 13, 2020 06:51 pm IST

Public fury at Iran’s authorities had grown as questions about the plane crash mounted. Iranians on social media asked why officials were busy fending off criticism from abroad rather than sympathising with grieving families. Others asked why the plane was allowed to take off at a time of high tension. (Bloomberg)

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