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Iran arrests opposition figures Iran arrests opposition figures
(about 1 hour later)
A number of opposition figures have been arrested in Iran, a day after violent protests across the country left at least eight people dead. A number of opposition figures have been arrested in Iran, a day after at least eight people died during the most violent protests for months.
Those detained include senior aides to opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi. Those detained include aides to opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi and former President Mohammad Khatami.
His nephew Seyed Ali Mousavi was among those killed in Sunday's violence, the worst since June's contested elections. Mr Mousavi's nephew, Seyed Ali Mousavi, was among those killed on Sunday.
Family members say they are being prevented from holding his funeral because his body has been taken from the hospital where it was being kept. State media said authorities were doing forensic tests on his and four other bodies, preventing rapid burials customary under Islamic tradition.
His brother, Seyed Reza Mousavi, is quoted by the reformist website Parlemannews as saying: "Nobody accepts responsibility for taking away the body... We cannot have a funeral before we find the body." The bodies had been "retained in order to complete forensic and police examinations and find more leads on this suspicious incident", the Irna news agency reported.
Other opposition sources say the body has been taken by government agents in order to prevent his funeral becoming a rallying point for more protests. The Mousavi family had said earlier that Seyed Ali's body had been taken without their permission from the hospital where it was being held.
Foreign media face severe restrictions in Iran and these reports cannot be verified. Opposition sources said the body had been taken by government agents in order to prevent his funeral becoming a rallying point for more protests.
RECENT UNREST IN IRAN 19 Dec: Influential dissident cleric Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri dies aged 8721 Dec: Tens of thousands attend his funeral in Qom; reports of clashes between opposition supporters and security forces22 Dec: Further confrontations reported in Qom23 Dec: More clashes reported in city of Isfahan as memorial is held24 Dec: Iran reportedly bans further memorial services for Montazeri except in his birthplace and Qom26 Dec: Clashes reported in central and northern Tehran27 Dec: At least eight dead following anti-government protests in Tehran; 300 reported arrested RECENT UNREST IN IRAN 19 Dec: Influential dissident cleric Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri dies aged 8721 Dec: Tens of thousands attend his funeral in Qom; reports of clashes between opposition supporters and security forces22 Dec: Further confrontations reported in Qom23 Dec: More clashes reported in city of Isfahan as memorial is held24 Dec: Iran reportedly bans further memorial services for Montazeri except in his birthplace and Qom26 Dec: Clashes reported in central and northern Tehran27 Dec: At least eight dead following anti-government protests in Tehran; 300 reported arrested class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/8432884.stm">World reacts to Iran violence
An opposition website, Norooz, said police had fired teargas on Monday to disperse a group of Mousavi supporters who were demonstrating outside the hospital. An opposition website, Norooz, said police had fired tear gas on Monday to disperse a group of Mousavi supporters who were demonstrating outside the hospital.
According to Mr Mousavi's website, Seyed Ali Mousavi was shot in the back as security forces fired on demonstrators in Tehran on Sunday. According to Mr Mousavi's website, Seyed Ali Mousavi was shot in the back on Sunday as security forces fired on demonstrators in Tehran.
Intermittent protests in Iran following President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's controversial re-election in June have represented the biggest challenge to the government since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Foreign media face severe restrictions in Iran, making reports hard to verify.
BBC Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne, reporting from London, says the government's immediate response to the latest confrontation has been to arrest senior opposition figures, as it did after protests against the disputed presidential elections in June.BBC Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne, reporting from London, says the government's immediate response to the latest confrontation has been to arrest senior opposition figures, as it did after protests against the disputed presidential elections in June.
The authorities are blaming troublemakers for the violence, our correspondent says, with the police denying that security forces are responsible for any deaths and suggesting that protesters may have shot each other.The authorities are blaming troublemakers for the violence, our correspondent says, with the police denying that security forces are responsible for any deaths and suggesting that protesters may have shot each other.
Members of the opposition believe Seyed Ali Mousavi was deliberately targeted by the government in an attempt to intimidate Mir Hossein Mousavi. The majority hardline block in the Iranian parliament called on "security and judiciary authorities to firmly deal with those who mock Ashura", referring to the Shia Muslim festival that reached its climax on Sunday.
But, our correspondent adds, the government will be doing itself no favours if it has taken his body because this would outrage religious conservatives, as well as the opposition. But members of the opposition believe Seyed Ali Mousavi was deliberately targeted by the government in an attempt to intimidate Mir Hossein Mousavi.
Our correspondent adds that the government will be doing itself no favours if it has taken his body because this would outrage religious conservatives, as well as the opposition.
'Shameless act''Shameless act'
Among those reported arrested on Monday were opposition politician Ebrahim Yazdi, a foreign minister after the 1979 revolution and now leader of the Freedom Movement of Iran, and his nephew, Lily Tavasoli. Among those reported arrested on Monday were opposition politician Ebrahim Yazdi, a foreign minister after the 1979 revolution and now leader of the Freedom Movement of Iran, his nephew, Lily Tavasoli.
Ebrahim Yazdi, pictured in 2005, was also arrested in June this yearEbrahim Yazdi, pictured in 2005, was also arrested in June this year
Mr Yazdi's son Khalil, who lives in the US, told the BBC's World Today programme he believed the Iranian authorities wanted to close down all opposition groups.Mr Yazdi's son Khalil, who lives in the US, told the BBC's World Today programme he believed the Iranian authorities wanted to close down all opposition groups.
"It is a shameless and irresponsible act," he said."It is a shameless and irresponsible act," he said.
"Any opposition now, they want to shut [it] down. We're going down a one-way street that's now going downhill.""Any opposition now, they want to shut [it] down. We're going down a one-way street that's now going downhill."
The Parlemannews website reported that three aides to Mir Hossein Mousavi had been arrested.The Parlemannews website reported that three aides to Mir Hossein Mousavi had been arrested.
It also named two aides to reformist former President Mohammad Khatami as being among those rounded up by the authorities.It also named two aides to reformist former President Mohammad Khatami as being among those rounded up by the authorities.
Mousavi Tebrizi, a senior cleric from the holy city of Qom who is close to Mr Mousavi, is also reported to have been arrested. Mousavi Tebrizi, a senior cleric from the holy city of Qom who is close to Mr Mousavi, is also reported to have been arrested, as is human-rights campaigner and journalist Emeddin Baghi.
The protests, which began after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's controversial re-election in June, have grown into the biggest challenge to the government since the 1979 Islamic revolution. International condemnation
Tear gas reports After Sunday's clashes, police fired tear gas to disperse crowds of demonstrators in various parts of Tehran overnight, according to reports.
Monday's arrests follow violent clashes which broke out on Sunday after opposition supporters took to the streets as the Shia Muslim festival of Ashura reached its climax.
In pictures: Tehran clashesIn pictures: Tehran clashes
Police fired tear gas to disperse crowds of demonstrators in various parts of the city overnight, according to reports.
On Monday, state-owned English-language Press TV said eight people had died. Earlier, Persian state television had reported at least 15 people killed.On Monday, state-owned English-language Press TV said eight people had died. Earlier, Persian state television had reported at least 15 people killed.
The official death toll for Sunday's confrontation is the highest since June. The official death toll for Sunday's confrontation is the highest since June, and police said about 300 people had been detained.
Tehran's police chief, Azizollah Rajabzadeh, was among dozens of security force members injured in the clashes, officials said. Unconfirmed reports, later denied by a local prosecutor, said four people also died in protests in the north-western city of Tabriz. Clashes were also reported in Isfahan and Najafabad in central Iran and Shiraz in the south.
About 300 people were detained after the protests, police said on Sunday.
Unconfirmed reports said four people also died in protests in the north-western city of Tabriz and there were clashes in Isfahan and Najafabad in central Iran and Shiraz in the south.
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Amateur footage appeared to show protesters clashing with security forces in Tehran on 27 DecemberAmateur footage appeared to show protesters clashing with security forces in Tehran on 27 December
Moderate cleric Mehdi Karoubi, who came fourth in last June's election, criticised Iran's rulers for Sunday's violence, an opposition website reported.Moderate cleric Mehdi Karoubi, who came fourth in last June's election, criticised Iran's rulers for Sunday's violence, an opposition website reported.
The US, the UK, France, Germany and Canada have all condemned the violence.The US, the UK, France, Germany and Canada have all condemned the violence.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said it was "particularly disturbing to hear accounts of the lack of restraint by the security forces" on a day of religious commemoration and reflection.British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said it was "particularly disturbing to hear accounts of the lack of restraint by the security forces" on a day of religious commemoration and reflection.
In a strongly-worded statement, German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticised the "unacceptable actions of the security forces" and urged Tehran to respect civil rights.In a strongly-worded statement, German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticised the "unacceptable actions of the security forces" and urged Tehran to respect civil rights.
Iranian security forces have been on alert since influential dissident cleric Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri died a week ago aged 87.Iranian security forces have been on alert since influential dissident cleric Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri died a week ago aged 87.
His funeral attracted tens of thousands of pro-reform supporters, many of whom shouted anti-government slogans.His funeral attracted tens of thousands of pro-reform supporters, many of whom shouted anti-government slogans.
Anger at last June's elections, won by incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, sparked mass protests in Tehran and other cities that led to thousands of arrests and some deaths.
Mr Mousavi and other opposition leaders have said the poll was rigged.
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