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Eight people have been killed and hundreds arrested in the Iranian capital after clashes between police and demonstrators. The nephew of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi is reported to be among the dead.

Iranian state television has reported that eight people were killed in violent clashes between police and opposition supporters during rituals commemorating one of Shiite Islam's leading figures on Sunday.

The state English-language Press TV confirmed the deaths, citing Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. As many as 300 demonstrators were arrested following the clashes, and reports said that Ali Riza Beheshti, the closest aide to opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, and former Foreign Minister Ebrahim Yazdi were also detained early on Monday.

The deaths were the first such fatalities in the country since violent street protests erupted there following the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June, which saw as many as 70 people die.

According to the Web site Kaleme, an adviser to Mousavi confirmed the death of Mousavi's nephew in the clashes. The Web site quoted the adviser as saying, "I express my regrets and deep condolences over the martyrdom of your nephew Ali Habibi Mousavi on Sunday."Among EU nations, France has been the first to criticize the Iranian government's response. "

France condemns the arbitrary arrests and the violent actions committed against simple protesters who came to defend their ... >>>