New protests held in Iran
Updated on 17 June 2009
The first pictures have begun to emerge of fresh protests in Iran over the results of last week's elections.
Iran's defeated presidential candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi, has called on his supporters to stage new, but peaceful, demonstrations as a mark of respect to those killed in the post-election clashes.
Those protests are due to take place tomorrow, but it is expected that many will again take to the streets this afternoon, as tensions remain high across the country.
Iran has now banned foreign journalists from reporting, or filming the events on the streets - but there are no controls on what they can say.
Just before we came on air, our international editor Lindsey Hilsum spoke to us from Tehran.
New protests focus pressure on Iran
Despite the authorities' readiness for a partial recount, Mousavi's backers plan a fifth day of demonstrations since Friday's poll in which hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was officially declared to have won a resounding victory.
American President Barack Obama, who has sought to engage Iran and asked its leadership to "unclench its fist", said protests showed the "Iranian people are not convinced with the legitimacy of the election".
Seven people were killed in a big opposition protest on Monday in central Tehran, state media said, and Mousavi urged his followers to call off a planned rally in the same area the following day.
Tens of thousands of pro-Mousavi demonstrators instead marched on Tuesday in northern Tehran yesterday, and many of them to the state television IRIB building, which was ringed by riot police, witnesses said.
Wearing wristbands and ribbons in his green campaign colours, they carried his picture and made victory signs. Some were sending messages to others to meet again on today for a rally at Tehran's central Haft-e Tir Square.
In an apparent bid to head off the opposition rally in the centre of the capital, Ahmadinejad's supporters mobilised a big crowd of demonstrators where Mousavi's supporters had originally planned to gather.
In what appeared to be a first concession by authorities to the protest movement, the 12-man guardian council, Iran's top legislative body, said it was prepared for a partial recount but ruled out annulling the poll.
Further protests are a direct challenge to the authorities who have kept a tight grip on dissent since the US-backed shah was overthrown in 1979 after months of protest.
