New wave of protests followed by arrests in Iran
Iran's opposition leaders remained defiant Wednesday despite calls from hard-liners for them to be brought to trial and put to death, with one reform advocate saying he was willing to "pay any price" in pursuit of democratic change.
Clashes erupted between regime backers and "apparent" supporters of Iran's opposition at a funeral in Tehran Wednesday of a person killed in anti-government protests, state television reported.
"Students and people participating in the funeral of martyr Sane'e Zhale in Tehran Fine Arts University are clashing with a few apparently from the sedition movement," the television website said.
The clashes erupted when pro-regime backers, including members of parliament and Revolutionary Guards, held a demonstration during the funeral of Zhale chanting "Death to America! Death to Israel! Death to Britain! Death to Monafeghin! Death to Mousavi and Karroubi", state media reported.
Zhale, a Sunni Kurd, was slain during Monday's anti-government protests staged by supporters of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi.
Iranian authorities have blamed the two leaders, Mr. Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, for violence on Monday after they called for a rally which turned into deadly anti-government protests in which two people were killed and several wounded.
Karroubi called for the release of political prisoners and demanded freedom for newspapers and agencies.
Karroubi became the center of a dispute Wednesday, with regime-backers insisting he was member of the volunteer Islamist Basij militia, while the opposition said he came from their ranks.
Zhale was one of the two people killed on Monday when riot-police and opposition backers clashed in Tehran during an anti-government demonstration.
Iranian police have already arrested six people who are accused of inciting anti-government protests. Representatives of diplomatic missions of Spain, Great Britain and Japan are also placed under arrest.
