Clerics march in Qom

The state news agency in Iran says clerics and religious students have staged a demonstration in the holy city of Qom, in protest at the pro-democracy rally in Teheran on Monday.

The agency said tens of thousands of clerics gathered at a seminary and marched through the city.

They warned against what they called liberals and spies, and claimed the Teheran demonstrators had violated Islamic values by clapping and stamping in the sacred month of Moharram.

The Teheran rally ended in violence, when Islamic radicals attacked demonstrators with sticks and chains.

The Interior Ministry says one of these attackers has been arrested for throwing tear gas.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service