Mousavi nephew among five dead in Iran clashes: Websites

Tehran: Iranian reformist websites said security forces killed a nephew of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi as police confirmed that five people died during anti-government rallies in Tehran.

Witnesses said dozens of protesters were also wounded in what turned into the bloodiest showdown between protesters and security forces since unrest in June after a disputed presidential election saw hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad returned to power.

Opposition website Rahesabz.net yesterday said four protesters were shot dead by security forces in central Tehran while reformist website Parlemannews said Mousavi's nephew died in hospital after being shot in the chest.

Tehran police said five people were "suspiciously killed". "Specialists are trying to identify the suspect perpetrators of this incident," said a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency.

Police arrested more than 300 people, deputy police chief Ahmad Reza Radan told state television.

Witnesses said police used batons and tear gas in the crackdown, which followed stern warnings by the authorities that they would crush attempts to use Ashura processions as a launchpad for protests.