IRAN:Iranian police clashed with scores of women's rights activists who gathered in front of parliament yesterday to celebrate International Women's Day.
"Police attacked a gathering of some 700 women's rights activists and hit them with batons," an activist said. No one was seriously hurt.
Security forces arrested 33 women's rights activists on Sunday outside a Tehran court, where five other women detained in June had gone on trial. Most of them were released on Wednesday.
"All of them have gradually been released. But three of them are still in jail," lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh said.
Sunday's protesters were demanding a fair trial for the five women, charged for "acting against national security" after taking part in an "unauthorised" rally to demand equal legal rights for women in the Islamic Republic.
Iran insists it does not discriminate against women.
Iran's 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Shirin Ebadi's Defenders of Human Rights Organisation, has condemned arrests of women's activists, saying they are illegal.
Also yesterday, a protest of some 4,000 teachers against poor working conditions and low pay in front of parliament ended peacefully.
Analysts say demonstrations are likely to embarrass president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government, whose policies have fuelled inflation, hurting the worst off in society. - (Reuters)