Students try to disrupt Iran president's speech

Students try to disrupt Iran president's speech
Chant 'death to the dictator' as they approach Ahmadinejad's podium

A group of Iranian students chanting slogans tried to disrupt a speech by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday, provoking scuffles with other students and a rebuke from the president, a local news agency reported.

The semi-official Fars news agency said the students at Tehran's Amir Kabir University chanted "Death to the dictator" and tried to approach the podium where Ahmadinejad was speaking.

Scuffles broke out with supporters of the president chanting "Ahmadi, Ahmadi, we support you."

Ahmadinejad told the students: "The minority group which says there is no freedom of speech are not allowing the majority to hear my remarks."

Reuters journalists were unable to enter the university campus to independently verify the Fars report.

It was the first account of open criticism of the president, elected in a landslide in June 2005, at a public event.

Ahmadinejad's reformist predecessor, Mohammad Khatami, was barracked and criticised during his final speech to students in 2004.