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'Sporadic clashes in central Tehran'
Police and opposition supporters clashed sporadically Thursday afternoon in central Tehran, an opposition website said, quoting witnesses.
Police and opposition supporters clashed sporadically Thursday afternoon in central Tehran, an opposition website said, quoting witnesses.
AFP could not confirm the report carried by Rahesabz website, a mouthpiece of the opposition to hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but a correspondent said there was heavy police presence in central Tehran.
"Sporadic clashes broke out in Haft-e-Tir and Vali-Asr squares," between security forces and anti-government protesters, the website said in its report.
It quoted witness as saying security forces used "tear gas and batons to prevent the demonstrators from gathering."
An AFP correspondent who toured central Tehran said the situation was totally calm in Haft-e-Tir, Vali-Asr and other places where the opposition usually gathers, including Enghelab and Ferdossi squares.
Although police presence in the area was heavy, it was less important than in previous days, the correspondent said.
On Wednesday, hundreds of thousands of government supporters took to Iran's streets in response to a series of opposition protests against Ahmadinejad's disputed June re-election.
Hardliners have reacted angrily after thousands of opposition supporters used Sunday's climax of Ashura, one of Shiite Islam's holiest days, to protest, condemning the demonstrations as "desecration."
Since Sunday, when at least eight people were killed, scores of opposition figures, activists and journalists have also been arrested, reports said.
