Demonstrators, Police Clash in Iran

TheStreet, Iranian police clashed with demonstrators in Tehran who gathered on Monday to rally in support of the recent uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia, BBC reports, citing witness accounts from Iran.

Thousands of authorities were deployed in the nation's capital, Al Jazeera's Dorsa Jabbari reported from Tehran. Security forces were using tear gas, pepper spray and batons against the supporters in Azadi Square.

Thousands of Iranians marched toward the central Enghelab, or Revolution, Square, but were blocked by police forces, according to Reuters.

"There are thousands of people marching ... not chanting slogans ... Security forces fired tear gas to disperse them near Imam Hossein Square," Reuters quoted a witness as saying.

Authorities fear that the recent political upheaval in Egypt and Tunisia may inspire the Iranian people to summon anti-government protests similar to those that took place in June 2009.

Opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi were placed under house arrest by the authorities. Mousavi's phone lines were cut on Friday and police vehicles have blocked his street, opposition Web site Kaleme said, in the Iranian government's effort to thwart his efforts to conjure any demonstrations.

In 2009, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad beat out Mousavi in a widely disputed election. Mousavi then backed mass protests against the result, which were squashed by security officials.

Authorities were also denying the protesters a permit to demonstrate, the New York Times reports.

"These elements are fully aware of the illegal nature of the request," Mehdi Alikhani Sadr, an Interior Ministry official, was quoted saying on Sunday by Fars news agency. "They know they will not be granted permission for riots."