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Police and opposition supporters clash in Iranâ€™s capital

07 December 2009 12:59 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Iranian police clashed in Tehran on Monday with opposition demonstrators seeking to renew their challenge to the government six months after a disputed presidential election, witnesses said.
APA reports quoting Reuters that police fired teargas at supporters of opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi when a state-rally marking the killing of three students under the former Shah turned violent.
At least two women supporters of Mousavi were arrested and authorities shut down the mobile phone network in central Tehran to stop opposition protesters from contacting each other, the reformist website Rah-e Sabz said.
Security measures taken by the authorities on "Student Day" displayed their determination to uproot the opposition movement, which Mousavi said on Sunday would continue despite pressure.
Witnesses told Reuters police fired teargas and clashed with protesters in various Tehran squares to disperse them, but there was no independent confirmation because foreign media have been banned from leaving their offices.
"Police fired tear gas at demonstrators in Vali-ye Asr Square ... they are clashing with protesters," said a witness.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and their allied Basij militia had warned the opposition not to use the rally to revive protests against the clerical establishment after the June vote.
Iranian riot police have surrounded Tehran University, where the main state rally was held, to prevent the opposition from staging new demonstrations against the government.
"There are hundreds of riot police, (they are) everywhere around Tehran University and nearby streets," said another witness, who asked not to be named.
Internet connections were slow or completely down on Monday as has been the case over the past few days.