Azernews.Az

TEHRAN – Iranian police have fired tear gas at opposition demonstrators gathering in central Tehran in support of the protests in Egypt, BBC reported.

A BBC producer in the Iranian capital, who was affected by the gas, described central Tehran as "total chaos".

He said "severe clashes" were taking place between protesters and police and there had been many arrests.

Iranian police have placed opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi under house arrest, his official website says.

It says the move is intended to block him from attending the rally in Tehran.

The BBC's Mohsen Asgari in Tehran says thousands of people defied the government ban and gathered in the city centre chanting "death to dictators".

Riot police and plainclothes police backed by the Republican Guards used tear gas to disperse the protesters, he adds, and many were arrested.

Other witnesses said police also fired paintball guns at demonstrators.

Mr Mousavi's detention is the latest in a series of arrests of people linked to Mr Mousavi and fellow opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi, who is also under house arrest.

Several opposition groups had vowed to take part in the protest, although officials have banned the gathering.

Although Iran's establishment officially supports the Egyptian popular protests, it says the rallies are a "political move" by the two opposition leaders.

Authorities have stepped up security in the capital, blocked access to internet sites, and started jamming satellite news channels.

Analysts say Tehran is trying to stop opposition groups from using the Egypt rally as a means to re-ignite anti-government protests - last seen in December 2009 - against the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

In an unusual move, a man climbed a tall crane in central Tehran on Monday morning and began inviting people to attend today's rally.

He threatened to kill himself if officials tried to approach him, but was later arrested by the police, our correspondent says. The activist was earlier mistaken for a young woman.

Also on Monday morning, Iranian police vans blocked the lane leading to the house of Mr Mousavi and disconnected his mobile phones and land lines, his website Kaleme.com said.

Last week, almost a dozen people close to Mr Mousavi were detained.