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91 arrested in Iran on election anniversary

Iran Materials 13 June 2010 15:33 (UTC +04:00)
A total of 91 people have been arrested by police in Iran on the first anniversary of the country's contested election, despite the cancellation of a planned protest over the lack of an official permit, INSA news agency reported Sunday.
91 arrested in Iran on election anniversary

A total of 91 people have been arrested by police in Iran on the first anniversary of the country's contested election, despite the cancellation of a planned protest over the lack of an official permit, INSA news agency reported Sunday.

Iranian police chief Hossein Sajadinia told ISNA that there were no protests but 91 suspects had been arrested on Saturday, dpa reported.

ISNA had earlier Sunday quoted deputy chief of police Ahmad-Reza Radan as saying that police made "a few" arrests and "despite propaganda by the enemies," there were no protests or unrest in Tehran.

Opposition leaders Mir-Hossein Moussavi and Mehdi Karroubi had called off Saturday's demonstration after failing to get a permit from the Interior Ministry.

Anti-riot police were deployed in several districts of the capital, especially near the central Tehran University, a traditional gathering point for government opponents.

Twelve months ago, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won re-election amid widespread allegations of vote fraud that resulted in mass street protests and dozens of deaths.

The 2009 unrest led to the deaths of more than 30 dissidents, and the opposition claimed the death toll to be over 80. Thousands of demonstrators were arrested.

More than 100 protestors, including journalists, artists and former reform-oriented ministers and parliamentary deputies, received long jail terms. Two monarchists were executed. Six other dissidents are currently on death row.

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