Al-Hurra TV, Iraq, August 20, 2008 (excerpts) – Hundreds of Iranians, members of the PMOI (opposition), staged a demonstration in Geneva and asked for the protection of the supporters of the organization who are residing in Ashraf City, near Iran- Iraq border.

In a statement, the organization announced that the Iranian regime “has stepped up pressures on the Ashraf city (Iraq) over recent weeks.”

The demonstrators are afraid that the protection of Ashraf, where a big number of PMOI members live and are under the protection of MNF-I, be delivered to Iraqi state forces; “an issue that would pave the way for a humanitarian catastrophe”.

Afshin Alawi, the spokesman of the NCRI told AFP, “The MNF-I must continue to guarantee the security of Ashraf residents.”

A delegation of Ashraf residents’ families were received by the ICRC on Wednesday to put forward the problem.