More than two thousand people have taken part in a funeral procession in the Iranian capital, Teheran, for the writer Mohammed Mokhtari who was killed last week.

One of Iran's best known writers, Mahmud Dowlatabadi, warned the mourners against turning the funeral into a political rally which, he said, could be misinterpreted in the current tense political atmosphere.

The authorities say arrests have been made in connection with the recent wave of killings and abductions of dissident writers and opposition activists.

But Iranian moderates say they have doubts about the announcement, since the judiciary is controlled by conservatives.