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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.

Updated on: Jan 01, 2010 01:45 AM IST
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Police and opposition supporters clashed sporadically Thursday afternoon in central Tehran, an opposition website said, quoting witnesses.

HT Image
HT Image

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."

 
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Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.
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