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Tense Tehran waits for next move Iran TV says 13 died in protests
(20 minutes later)
Iran's capital is braced for possible fresh protests as the ongoing political struggle sparked by a disputed presidential poll continues. Iranian state TV is carrying unconfirmed reports that at least 13 people were killed in clashes during protests on Saturday.
State media said calm had returned to Tehran's streets, and quoted police as saying they had restored order. It said "rioters" set two petrol stations and a mosque on fire, and attacked a military post.
But eyewitness accounts suggest several people were injured on Saturday after demonstrators defied official demands for them to end street protests. State media earlier said calm had returned to Tehran, and quoted police as saying they had restored order.
State TV says "a number" of people died when "rioters" set fire to a mosque. It was unclear whether fresh protests would go ahead on Sunday, amid official demands for them to stop.
There has been no independent confirmation of the report, which is the first time the official media has said anyone was killed in Saturday's protests. The protests were sparked by disputed presidential elections, but have since escalated into a political crisis striking at the heart of the establishment.
Eyewitness accounts say the police used batons, tear gas and water cannon to quash Saturday's protests, and protesters had also relayed unconfirmed reports of deaths.
The BBC and other foreign media are subject to heavy restrictions which have prevented reporters from leaving their offices to confirm many reports.The BBC and other foreign media are subject to heavy restrictions which have prevented reporters from leaving their offices to confirm many reports.
Protest leader and defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi has been quoted as saying peaceful protests should continue and that people have a constitutional right to demonstrate.Protest leader and defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi has been quoted as saying peaceful protests should continue and that people have a constitutional right to demonstrate.
US President Barack Obama has warned Iran to stop all "violence and unjust action against its own people".US President Barack Obama has warned Iran to stop all "violence and unjust action against its own people".
See map of central Tehran See map of central Tehran
Burning debrisBurning debris
Reports from Tehran and other major Iranian cities on Sunday suggested the streets were quiet, and security forces have withdrawn for the time being.Reports from Tehran and other major Iranian cities on Sunday suggested the streets were quiet, and security forces have withdrawn for the time being.
The protesters have got so many options at the moment of course but we just don't know how the actual leaders of the protests will react Tehran residentThe protesters have got so many options at the moment of course but we just don't know how the actual leaders of the protests will react Tehran resident
Iranian newspapers reportedly carried a letter to Mr Mousavi from Iran's police chief, Ismail Ahmadi Moghaddam, in which he warned that officers would "decisively confront" any further unrest.Iranian newspapers reportedly carried a letter to Mr Mousavi from Iran's police chief, Ismail Ahmadi Moghaddam, in which he warned that officers would "decisively confront" any further unrest.
Witness accounts suggested police used live rounds, batons, tear gas and water cannon to break up demonstrations which went on late into Saturday night.Witness accounts suggested police used live rounds, batons, tear gas and water cannon to break up demonstrations which went on late into Saturday night.
A BBC reporter said he saw one man shot and others injured amid fighting, with streets littered with burning debris.A BBC reporter said he saw one man shot and others injured amid fighting, with streets littered with burning debris.
There were unsubstantiated reports of deaths from both protesters and official sources.There were unsubstantiated reports of deaths from both protesters and official sources.
A state TV report said "rioters set on fire the Lolagar mosque... in which unfortunately a number of our citizens were killed", but there has been no other word on the incident.A state TV report said "rioters set on fire the Lolagar mosque... in which unfortunately a number of our citizens were killed", but there has been no other word on the incident.
The protests went ahead despite a direct demand from the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to end them and accept President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's victory in 12 June presidential elections.The protests went ahead despite a direct demand from the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to end them and accept President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's victory in 12 June presidential elections.
In a statement on his website, Mr Mousavi accused authorities of cheating the Iranian people out of a rightful election result, reports said.In a statement on his website, Mr Mousavi accused authorities of cheating the Iranian people out of a rightful election result, reports said.
He reportedly warned of "dangerous ways ahead" if peaceful protests were not allowed.He reportedly warned of "dangerous ways ahead" if peaceful protests were not allowed.
In pictures: Tehran unrest Q&A: Blocked protests Reporters' log: Iran's upheaval BBC eyewitness: Heavy security The consequences of engagement Suspicions behind electionIn pictures: Tehran unrest Q&A: Blocked protests Reporters' log: Iran's upheaval BBC eyewitness: Heavy security The consequences of engagement Suspicions behind election
The BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen says there is an apparent absence of strong leadership of the protests.The BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen says there is an apparent absence of strong leadership of the protests.
"The protesters have got so many options at the moment of course but we just don't know how the actual leaders of the protests will react," one Tehran resident told the BBC."The protesters have got so many options at the moment of course but we just don't know how the actual leaders of the protests will react," one Tehran resident told the BBC.
He said the defeated presidential candidates and leading politicians who had been associated with the protest movement - Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mohammad Khatami - were "staying in the background".He said the defeated presidential candidates and leading politicians who had been associated with the protest movement - Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mohammad Khatami - were "staying in the background".
"I think this is possibly a negative sign for the opposition," he said."I think this is possibly a negative sign for the opposition," he said.
Critics of the presidential poll - which gave President Ahmadinejad a resounding 63% of votes, compared with 34% for Mr Mousavi, his nearest rival - say there is evidence of widespread irregularities.Critics of the presidential poll - which gave President Ahmadinejad a resounding 63% of votes, compared with 34% for Mr Mousavi, his nearest rival - say there is evidence of widespread irregularities.
Obama's dilemmaObama's dilemma
In other reported developments:In other reported developments:
  • State TV says members of the exiled opposition group Mujahideen Khalq Organisation (MKO) have been arrested for "terrorist activities". The report said they had been burning buses and smashing public property - and had been taking orders from their operation room in the UK
  • Amateur video suggested clashes also erupted on Saturday in the southern city of Shiraz and violence was also reported in Isfahan, south of Tehran, AP news agency reported
  • State TV reported that a suicide bomber had struck at a shrine of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, but there was no independent confirmation of this
  • State TV says members of the exiled opposition group Mujahideen Khalq Organisation (MKO) have been arrested for "terrorist activities". The report said they had been burning buses and smashing public property - and had been taking orders from their operation room in the UK
  • Amateur video suggested clashes also erupted on Saturday in the southern city of Shiraz and violence was also reported in Isfahan, south of Tehran, AP news agency reported
  • State TV reported that a suicide bomber had struck at a shrine of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, but there was no independent confirmation of this
In his comments on the crisis, President Obama urged Iran's leaders to "govern through consent, not coercion".In his comments on the crisis, President Obama urged Iran's leaders to "govern through consent, not coercion".
In a statement from the White House on Saturday, he said: "The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights.In a statement from the White House on Saturday, he said: "The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights.
They were Mr Obama's strongest comments so far on the Iranian crisis, our Middle East editor says - and come amid Republican accusations that he has not been outspoken enough in his condemnation of the Iranian government.They were Mr Obama's strongest comments so far on the Iranian crisis, our Middle East editor says - and come amid Republican accusations that he has not been outspoken enough in his condemnation of the Iranian government.
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