Iran's police have arrested 457 people in the post-election violence that erupted Saturday in Tehran despite warnings against illegal gatherings, local English- language Press TV reported on Monday.
"Iran's police arrested 457 people who have caused insecurity, disrupted public order and clashed with police around Tehran's Enqelab square on Saturday," the police said in a statement.
"The arrested vandals destroyed public properties, broke windows of banks and shops and caused trouble for the people," the statement said, adding that armed terrorists also set fire to a mosque and attacks were made on two gas stations and a military post.
The police have successfully managed to restore security in the main streets of Tehran and calm has returned to the Iranian capital, the statement added.
Thirteen people were killed in clashes between Iranian police and "terrorist groups" on Saturday.
Turbulence has overshadowed Tehran following the disputed presidential election on June 12. On Saturday, Iran's police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators at a main square of Tehran in the latest violent clash between protestors and security forces.
On June 13, Iran's Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli said incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won 62.63 percent of the total ballots on June 12, while his main rival Mir-Hossein Mousavi got 33.75 percent.
After the official declaration, Mousavi protested "strongly" the"obvious violations" in Iran's presidential election. He also appealed to the Guardian Council for the cancellation of the election results.
Mousavi's supporters have participated in massive rallies in Tehran and other cities over the past days.
(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2009)
