DATE=02/10/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAN / ANNIVERSARY (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-272406

BYLINE=DALE GAVLAK

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Tens-of-thousands of Iranians gathered in Tehran to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. Fist fights broke out between hard-liners and supporters of a leading dissident, after Iranian President Mohammad Khatami spoke to the masses. Dale Gavlak reports from Cairo.

TEXT: Chanting national slogans and carrying pictures of Iran's late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, tens-of-thousands of Iranians gathered in Tehran's Azadi Square to celebrate the revolution that toppled the Shah of Iran. They carried banners reading "Long live the Islamic Revolution," "Down with the United States" and "Down with Israel!"

President Khatami addressed the throng, telling Iranians that extremist interpretations of Islamic law were threatening freedom and democratic rule in Iran. He said the Islamic revolution belongs to all Iranians, and no one has the right to use it in his own name or political persuasion.

He warned the people that misrepresenting Islam and using the religion in a narrow and non-democratic way endangered the country. President Khatami also argued that popular rule is compatible with Islam.

President Khatami praised Iran's constitution, saying it brought greater freedom after the Shah's oppression. He added that no one is above the constitution.

But Iran's reformists frequently complain that the country's hard-line judiciary abuses the constitution by arresting and prosecuting reformists and denying their right to free speech.

Shortly after President Khatami's speech, Islamic vigilantes clashed with supporters of Heshmatollah Tabarzadi, who heads the reformist Iranian People's Democratic Front party. It's believed that the clashes were not a direct reaction to the president's speech, but instead, a signal of widening opposition to the hard-liners' grip on power.

Clashes erupted between 200 supporters of Mr. Tabarzadi and members of the conservative Ansar-e-Hezbollah, or partisans of God. Dozens of policemen tried to separate the groups.

Witnesses said 50 of Mr. Tabarzadi's supporters, but none of the Ansar-e-Hezbollah members were detained.

Mr. Tabarzadi said the group had gathered near Tehran University to protest against the government's jailing of students and writers for demanding freedom and the rule of law in Iran. He said the revolution that promised freedom has now been seized by dictators who trample on the rights of the nation to stay in power against the wishes of the people.

Hard-liners have reasserted their power after losing their grip on parliament last year, by shutting down reformist publications and jailing prominent reformists and journalists.

They still control key levers of power, including Iran's broadcasting system, military and police.

On Friday, clashes erupted in Tehran between police and supporters of the late Shah's dynasty. Police said they detained 50 people. (Signed)

NEB/DG/ALW/TDW