More anti-government protests in Iran

It has been a day of unrest in Iran, with reports of clashes between police and anti-government groups. An opposition website says there have been protests in three cities, where security forces have used tear gas and batons to disperse the protesters. Footage claiming to show the violence has been taken by people caught up in the clashes. There is no independent confirmation of the events, and Iranian state TV is reporting that the opposition has staged these demonstrations.

According to another opposition website, protests have been taking place in Isfahan, Najafabad and Qom, with at least 50 people arrested and many injured.

The unrest comes two days after the funeral of the reformist cleric Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri. He was from Najafabad, one of the cities where the protests are believed to be taking place. Ayatollah Montazeri was a critic of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinajad. After this year’s elections, the cleric ordered a fatwa against the leader.

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