Tehran: Iran has arrested about 200 people for taking part in an "illegal" rally at a Tehran park, a top judiciary official was quoted as saying by Fars news agency today.

"The investigation is continuing so that a decision can be made immediately about those who are innocent or have committed a lesser offence," Tehran province justice chief Ali Reza Avaie said of Friday's gathering.

Avaie did not give further details but Fars said had been called by opposition-run satellite channels broadcasting to Iran from the United State and Europe.

Fars said the demonstrators demanded the release of Abbas Palizdar, a mid-ranking official detained on Wednesday after accusing top clerics of corruption in a speech in a university in eastern Iran.

Despite ban on satellite dishes, frequent crackdowns and the jamming of signal, many Iranians watch satellite TV programmes including dozens of Persian-language channels.

The Islamic republic is sensitive about links with these channels, some of which openly call for regime change in Iran.

Private companies are also forbidden from advertising their products on satellite channels.

Source : PTI