Iran blames "unknown vandals" for civilian deaths

The prosecutor general's office of Tehran said on Monday that, "A number of Tehrani citizens were shot dead by unknown vandals Saturday night," reports Iran's state controlled Press TV.

The office said that security forces had arrested an armed man involved in disturbances on Saturday, but dismissed reports that they had arrested a man whose photo had been published by various news agencies.

The statement said, "Iran's security and intelligence officials are currently probing into the identity of the individual whose photo was published and broadcast by news agencies."

Iranian authorities said that "terrorist elements" had infiltrated Saturday's protests and had set fire to a mosque and two petrol stations and were responsible for killing a number of people.

Officially 17 people were killed on Saturday after the government launched a crackdown against the protestors. A number of protestors got involved in clashes with security forces and Basij militia.

One of the protestors killed was an unarmed 27 year old woman named Neda Agha Soltani, who has become known as the "Angel of Iran" after her unprovoked shooting, allegedly by a Basiji, was caught on camera and posted on YouTube and other internet sites.

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