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Witnesses: police clash with protesters in Tehran

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Witnesses say Iranian security forces have clashed with opposition protesters in one part of Tehran.

The witnesses say authorities used batons to try to disperse demonstrators holding anti-government marches in a central square in the capital. The opposition protests were called to coincide with state-sanctioned rallies Wednesday marking the 30th anniversary of the takeover of the U.S. Embassy.

The witnesses had no immediate reports of serious injuries or arrests among theprotesters. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of fear of arrest.

Outside the former U.S. Embassy, thousands of people gathered for the annual anti-American demonstrations.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Thousands of people are taking to the streets of Tehran for government-backed events marking the anniversary of the takeover of the U.S. Embassy. So far, there have been only scattered reports of counter-protests by opposition groups.

Police had threatened opposition groups not to hold any demonstrations Wednesday during the annual event marking the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in 1979.

In one incident, witnesses told The Associated Press that about 2,000 students confronted hundreds of security forces outside Tehran University, but there was no immediate reports of violence. The witnesses spoke on condition of anonymity because of fears of arrests.

Outside the former U.S. embassy, people waved anti-U.S. banners.

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