Police beat demonstrators and fired tear gas and water cannons at thousands who rallied Saturday against the recent presidential election outcome. According to the AP, eyewitnesses described fierce clashes near Revolution Square in central Tehran after nearly 3,000 protesters chanted "Death to the dictator!" and "Death to dictatorship!"
English-language state channel Press TV confirmed that police had used batons and other measures against what it called unauthorized demonstrations.
The witnesses told The Associated Press that between 50 and 60 protesters were seriously beaten by police and taken to Imam Khomeini hospital in central Tehran. People could be seen dragging away people bloodied by baton strikes. Some protesters appeared to be fighting back, witnesses said.
Tehran University was cordoned off by police and militia while students inside the university chanted "death to the dictator!" witnesses said.
Meanwhile, Press TV said an explosion at the Tehran shrine of the founder of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had killed one person and injured eight. The shrine is about 12 miles (20 kilometers) south of central Tehran.
