More than 200 arrested in Iran student protests

TEHERAN: Iran will "show no mercy" towards opposition protesters seen as threatening national security, a judiciary official said yesterday, a day after thousands of students staged anti-government rallies.

A nationwide rally on Monday to mark the killing of three students under the Shah turned violent when students clashed with security forces armed with batons and tear gas in the largest anti-government protests in months.

Tehran's police chief says 204 protesters were arrested in widespread anti-government marches by university students. Gen. Azizullah Rajabzadeh says the protesters - including 39 women - were detained in the capital during Monday's rallies for violating public order," according to the state news agency IRNA. He says they will be handed over to the judiciary after police investigation.