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"The trial of some of those accused of being involved in post-election unrest started this morning," Fars news agency reported.

Those on trial included prominent reformers such as former vice president Mohammad Ali Abtahi, former deputy foreign minister Mohsen Aminzadeh, former government spokesman Abdollah Ramazanzadeh, former senior lawmaker Mohsen Mirdamadi and former Industry Minister Behzad Nabavi, Fars reported.

Iranian media have reported that some of those detained were accused of acting against national security, a common charge against dissenting voices in Iran. They could even face the death penalty.

On Thursday thousands of pro-reform demonstrators gathered to mourn those killed in post-election unrest, in a show of defiance of the authorities upholding Ahmadinejad's victory. Riot police fired tear gas and arrested some protesters.

A police official told the semi-official ILNA news agency on Friday that 50 protesters had been arrested but said "many of them have been released later."

Rights groups say hundreds of people, including senior pro- reform politicians, journalists, activists and lawyers, h... >>>