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Water Riot Breaks Out in Iran

Protests have erupted following a dispute over a water pipeline in Iran's Esfahan Province, reports an Al-Monitor correspondent there.
A fisherman tries to catch fish at the dried-up Zayanderood River, with the Khajoo Bridge seen in the background, in Isfahan, 450 km (281 miles) south of Tehran, June 27, 2008. The river dried up due to low rainfall and the water being re-channelled for hydroelectricity purposes. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl (IRAN) - RTX7EU6

Farmers in eastern Esfahan province yesterday, Feb. 27 fought off police special forces sent to provide security for the repair of a water pipeline that was destroyed last week, in a violent water dispute between Esfahan and Yazd.

In scenes of the fight's aftermath, captured on phone cameras, angry farmers and local residents of Varzaneh, 80km east of Esfahan, threw stones at the burning busses that had brought the police.

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