Basij militia disperse Tehran protesters

TEHRAN, July 9 (UPI) -- The Iranian Basij militia confronted hundreds of protesters Thursday in Tehran, using nightsticks and tear gas to disperse the crowd, witnesses said.

The crowd of about 2,000 to 3,000 people was trying to get to Tehran University for a demonstration to mark the 10th anniversary of a student protest against the closing of a liberal newspaper. The unrest also continued protests related to last month's disputed presidential election.

Some people called "God is great," which has become a trademark of opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad since his re-election, and "Ya Hossein, Mir Hossein," referring to Mir Hossein Mousavi, the leading opposition candidate, CNN reported.

Most roads around the university were closed, funneling everyone into a single street where the Basij, a semi-official group that supports the government, was waiting.

The head of Iranian security forces warned earlier there was no permit for a demonstration Thursday and attempts to hold one would meet strong resistance, CNN said.

The government also tried to encourage people to leave the capital by warning of weather conditions causing severe air pollution and closing government offices.

Iranian officials said they had released 2,000 people who were arrested for participating in the post-election protests, but still held 1,500 prisoners who were to be put on trial, the state-run Press TV reported. At least 20 people are believed to have been killed.