There have been clashes in the Iranian capital, Tehran, between hardline Islamists and students attending a pro-democracy rally.

Reports say at least 20 people were injured.

The violence broke out when 2,000 students gathered in a city park with government permission to demonstrate against the influence of hardline clergy in Iranian politics.

Militants oppose President Khatami's reforms

They were attacked by at least 60 militants dressed in black attacked the gathering with sticks, stones and chains and tried to disable the loudspeaker. A running battle broke out.

Police threw tear gas into the crowd but skirmishes continued around the park.

The rally had been postponed twice before to avoid clashes with the hardliners.

The students have been demanding that non-clerics and women be allowed to run in elections later this year for the powerful Assembly of Experts.

The BBC Middle East correspondent says the clash clearly reflected the continuing struggle between reformists and hardliners within the Iranian clerical regime, although it brought together the fringle elements on both sides.

Militants resort to violence

Those who attacked the rally are thought to belong to the Ansar-e Hezbollah faction, which often uses violence to silence critics of the conservative clergy.

Less than two weeks ago its members attacked a conference of surgeons which had criticised a move to segregate medical care by gender.

President Khatami, elected last year on a platform of more social and political freedom, pledged on the anniversary of his election on Saturday to press ahead with reforms.

Addressing tens of thousands of supporters, he said nothing would stop him from implementing the programme he had promised the people of Iran.

But he called on all sides to exercise tolerance and persuasion rather than coercion and confrontation.
 

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