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Iranian security forces have clashed with opposition supporters in the city of Isfahan, opposition websites say.

Activists said police used tear gas and batons to disperse people gathering to commemorate Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri, who died at the weekend.

Security forces reportedly surrounded the home of the ayatollah who organised the memorial service.

On Monday, tens of thousands attended the grand ayatollah's funeral in the holy city of Qom.

Many of them shouted anti-government slogans.

'Fiercely confronted'

The funeral saw reports of clashes between security forces and mourners - with confrontations continuing in Qom on Tuesday.

State television reported that government supporters staged counter-demonstrations on Tuesday and Wednesday in Qom.

Reformists say there has also been unrest in the ayatollah's home city of Najafabad over the past two days.

BBC
Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne says the confrontations are all part of
a build-up to a big series of demonstrations expected at the weekend.

The
authorities have not yet confirmed the unrest in Isfahan, but the country's police chief warned on Wednesday that opposition protests would not be tolerated.

"We advise this movement to end their activities," the semi-official Fars news agency quoted Esmail Ahmadi Moghaddam as saying.

"Otherwise those who violate t... >>>