Global General

One killed during protests in Iran

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-02-15 16:46

TEHRAN - One person was killed and some others were wounded in protests in Iranian capital of Tehran on Monday, semi-official Mehr news agency quoted Iran's deputy police chief, Ahmad Reza Radan as saying on Tuesday.

The person was a bystander and was shot by "Monafeghin", said Radan, referring to the dissident Paris-based People's Mujahedeen of Iran (PMOI).

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Some others were wounded including nine security force members, the police commander said, adding that one of the wounded people is in critical condition.

He said the police arrested some of the PMOI members and their case is under investigation.

Meanwhile, he blamed the United States, Britain and Israel for provoking unrest inside Iran.

The Iranian security forces on Monday fired tear gas to disperse protesters gathering in some parts of Tehran in support of demonstrations in Egypt and Tunisia, which was later turned into an anti-government demonstration.

Iran's opposition leaders, Mir-Hussein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, had asked for an official permission to demonstrate on Monday to back popular protests in Egypt and Tunisia, which was rejected by the government.

However, the opposition leaders insisted on their demand defying the government's rejection.