TEHRAN, Iran — Four people died in Tehran yesterday when pro-reform protesters clashed with security forces, Iranian state TV said.
It was the worst outbreak of violence since June’s contested election sparked political turmoil.
In all, the opposition Web site Jaras said, eight people were killed as tens of thousands demonstrated across Iran during Ashoura, a Shiite religious festival.
Among the dead was opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi’s nephew. State TV said “unknown assailants” killed Ali Habibi Mousevi. A Mousavi aide described the death as a “martyrdom.”
More than 300 protesters were arrested in Tehran, state TV said
“Dozens of police officers have been injured, including Tehran’s police chief,” the TV report quoted Ahmadreza Radan, Iran’s deputy police chief, as saying.
He said one person fell from a bridge, two died in car accidents and one was shot dead, but not by police.
Shots were heard in northern Tehran after nightfall.
“We will kill those who killed our brothers,” Jaras quoted demonstrators as chanting.
The semi-official Fars News Agency said protestors “followed the call of the foreign media” and took to the streets — a reference to the government position that the unrest is being stoked by foreign enemies of the Islamic Republic.
Foreign media have been banned from reporting directly from the protests.