Students protest against Iranian leader

TEHRAN, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Nearly 100 students from Tehran’s largest university protested against Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Monday, chanting "death to the dictator."

The students, who defied a recent crackdown on dissent, accused Ahmadinejad of corruption and discrimination, chanting "death to the dictator," the Los Angeles Times reported.

The Iranian president was at the University of Tehran to launch the academic year, just two weeks after causing controversy on a visit to New York’s Columbia University.

"You, Mr. Ahmadinejad, claimed at Columbia University that there is freedom of speech in Iran's universities," one student said, using a megaphone. "Then why are three students still in jail?"

Not all of the students were on hand to protest. Some were just watching from the sidelines.

"I am here out of curiosity," said one graduate student, who asked that his name not be published. "I hate politics. I think in Iran you cannot live up to your own potential, and there are no good prospects for jobs. I am applying for further education in Europe or the United States, where I can go and live in a way that I think is right."