Iran cleric's funeral becomes opposition protest

Iranian opposition supporters marched through the streets of Isfahan on Wednesday, as tensions escalated in the major oil producer, six months after a disputed presidential election plunged the Islamic Republic into its deepest internal crisis since it was founded three decades ago.Reports said that security forces armed with batons and teargas later clashed with the protesters, supporters of the late dissident cleric Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri. One report said plainclothes agents used teargas and pepper gas against people who were gathering for a Montazeri memorial service to be held in a mosque in the city of Isfahan, while another said women and children were among people beaten up. Some opposition supporters were injured and dozens were arrested, according to reformist websites, whose reports could not be independently verified. There was no immediate comment from the authorities. If confirmed, they would further highlight escalating tension The Jaras website said many demonstrators were hurt during the clashes in Isfahan, which occurred during the traditional third day of mourning for Montazeri, who died on Saturday night at the age of 87 in the holy Shi'ite Muslim city of Qom. Another reformist website, Parlemannews, said at least 50 opposition supporters, including four journalists, were arrested in Isfahan, one of Iran's biggest and most historic cities. The website said plainclothes agents used pepper gas on a cleric named Adib, who it said was an ally of opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi and who was supposed to deliver the memorial service sermon, and arrested him by the Seyed mosque. Security forces surrounded the mosque to stop people entering, the Rah-e Sabz website said.