The death toll following anti-government demonstrations in the Iranian has increased to at least eight. One of the dead is the nephew of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi. Iranian state television reports hundreds of people were injured.

The opposition say police used tear gas, truncheons and opened fire on the demonstrators. The Iranian authorities deny this. The demonstrations have spread to other cities according to an opposition internet site.

The police have arrested hundreds of people, including opposition politician Ebrahim Yazdi. The former foreign minister is one of the leaders of the banned but tolerated Iran Freedom Movement. Mr Yazdi has been arrested before during other demonstrations in protest against the controversial re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The moderate spiritual leader Mehdi Karoubi, who came fourth in the presidential elections last June, has criticised the use of violence by police against the demonstrators. In a declaration distributed by the opposition he asks what has happened to the Iranian religious government which orders the death of innocent people on the Day of Ashura. Ashura, which marks death of the prophet Mohammed’s grandson, is Shiite Islam's holiest day.

The latest unrest come after the death of Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, just over a week ago. Montazeri was critical of the president. This was the bloodiest demonstration since June.

Photo: Anti-goverment protests in Tehran - EPA