Iran arrests opposition figures

Teheran, 28 Dec-(ANA)-A number of opposition figures have been arrested in Iran, a day after at least eight people died during the most violent protests for months.

Those detained include aides to opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi and former President Mohammad Khatami.

Mr Mousavi's nephew, Seyed Ali Mousavi, was among those killed on Sunday.

State media said authorities were doing forensic tests on his and four other bodies, preventing rapid burials customary under Islamic tradition.

The bodies had been "retained in order to complete forensic and police examinations and find more leads on this suspicious incident", the Irna news agency reported.

The Mousavi family had said earlier that Seyed Ali's body had been taken without their permission from the hospital where it was being held.

The authorities are blaming troublemakers for the violence with the police denying that security forces are responsible for any deaths and suggesting that protesters may have shot each other.

The US, the UK, France, Germany and Canada have all condemned the violence. (ANA)

FA/ANA/28 December 2009----