Iran arrests key opposition figures in effort to end protests

A former regime foreign minister, three close aides to Mir Hossein Mousavi, the defeated presidential candidate, and two aides to Mohammad Khatami, the former president, were all taken away by security forces, according to the opposition.

Iran arrests reformists in fresh crackdown

Ibrahim Yazdi, the head of the Freedom Movement of Iran, a religious nationalist party, and several reform-minded clerics in the holy city of Qom, were also held.

No official reason was given for the arrests, which seem certain to deepen the antagonism between the government and the reform movement.

Meanwhile, Basijis surrounded Ayatollah Sanei's office and started chanting, "Death to Sanei," "Sanei is an unbeliever," "Sanei is a source of emulation for the British," and "BBC, Sanei, congratulations on your union." One slogan they kept repeating was, "This army that has turned up is for the sake of [out of love for] the Leader," apparently referring to themselves.

Around 3 p.m., the group, which apparently consisted of Basiji and other plainclothes agents, had poured into the street and surrounded Ayatollah Sanei's office, fired tear gas into the mourning ceremony to disperse the gathering.

Again, after Maghreb (evening) prayers, which marked the start of Sham-e Ghariban [a religious dinner ceremony], a group headed to the Assn of Teachers and Researchers of Qom Seminary (mostly reformist) in the Safavieh district. Basijis and other plainclothes agents followed them there surrounding the place and lockinf them in. At some point, they let some out, and arrested others. From 7:45 until 9:30 p.m. there were clashes there.

At 10 p.m. the Basijis left the office and the police closed off the streets around Safavieh and also those leading to Sanei's office to ward off further attacks.