UPDATE 8-Iran opposition protests, agency reports shooting

Mon Feb 14, 2011 11:26pm GMT

[-] Text [+]

* Police scatter thousands marching on central Tehran square

* Security forces aimed to stop rallies inspired by Egypt

* Agency reports person shot dead by "seditionists"

* Turkish president in Tehran, says govts should heed people

(Edits, protests easing off in evening, Bahrain protests)

TEHRAN, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Thousands of Iranian opposition activists rallied in support of popular uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia on Monday and a semi-official news agency said one person was shot dead and several wounded by protesters.

An opposition website said dozens were arrested while taking part in the banned protests, which amounted to a test of strength for the reformist opposition in the Islamic state.

By late evening, chants of "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) echoed from Tehran rooftops in scenes reminiscent of 2009 protests against the disputed reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Eight people were killed in those mass street demonstrations which lasted about a month and resulted in many arrests and several executions.

A witness said security forces fired teargas to scatter thousands marching toward a Tehran square on Monday. There were also clashes between police and demonstrators, and dozens of arrests, in the city of Isfahan, another witness told Reuters. Continued...

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