ABU DHABI, June 19 (RIA Novosti) - Dubai authorities on Friday banned demonstrations by Iranian immigrants who have been protesting for four days in the Arab emirate against the presidential election results in Iran, Gulf News reported.
"We don't want the power struggle between the two conflicting parties to be fought over here," the newspaper quoted Dubai police chief Dahi Khalfan Tamim as saying.
Tehran has been swept by mass demonstrations over alleged ballot fraud in the landslide reelection of the hardline president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on June 12. Eight people were shot dead on Monday during street protests.
Tens of thousands of supporters of runner-up Mir Hossein Mousavi have been protesting daily in central Tehran in defiance of a government ban.
"We need to keep in mind that Ahmadinejad's supporters want to show their support too, which increases the possibility of a clash between the two protesting groups," Tamim said.
The United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is a part, has congratulated Ahmadinejad on his reelection. There are more than 100,000 Iranians in the seven emirates that comprise the UAE.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has criticized the West for making "hasty remarks" about the election and supporting illegal rallies.
The Guardian Council, Iran's top legislative body, is looking at accusations of fraud in the vote, but its response has so far not satisfied the opposition.
