Iran marks first anniversary of disputed elections

As Iran marked over the weekend the first anniversary of a disputed presidential election, Iran's revolutionary guards warned civilians that they would crack down on any attempts to create a "security crisis."

Authorities had banned an opposition rally planned for Saturday, and reformist leaders had told their supporters to stay home, fearing for people's lives in any crackdown.

"Any revival of street protests is unlikely. But if the sedition movement creates a security crisis, we will confront them with full force," said senior Guards commander Reza Farzaneh, according to the Javan newspaper.

Last year's post-election street protests, the worst unrest since the Islamic republic was founded in 1979, were put down violently by the Guards. Mass detentions and trials followed. Two people were hanged and scores of detainees remain in jail.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a statement citing the Iranian government's "denial of the fundamental freedoms" to its citizens and calling for the release of jailed dissidents.

There was a heavy security presence on Tehran's squares and some opposition websites reported sporadic clashes between security forces and opposition supporters in various parts of Tehran, including inside two university campuses.

"Security forces dispersed a few dozen demonstrators in a southern Tehran square on Saturday. They were pushing people," a witness told Reuters. "They detained three protestors."

A senior police official denied reports of clashes.