Protests by Iranian Arabs erupted on 15 April 2011, the sixth anniversary of the 2005 Ahvaz unrest in the city of Ahvaz, capital of the Iranian Khuzestan province. The protesters were "demanding more rights and humanitarian benefits". Al Arabiya reported that when the protests began, the city was blockaded by Iranian security forces, who "broke up demonstrations by force" and that 15 people from Ahwaz have been killed and dozens have been wounded.[2] The security forces were reported to have been using various weapons, such as Kalashnikovs and tear gas canisters.