Iranian Cleric Calls Opposition 'Enemies of God'

An Iranian cleric close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei says the country's opposition leaders are "enemies of God" who could be executed according to Islamic law.

The statement by Ayatollah Abbas Vaez Tabasi came Tuesday as opposition groups reported the arrests of more activists following Sunday's anti-government protests that left eight people dead.

At least 20 high-profile opposition figures or their associates have been detained since Sunday.

Among them are the brother-in-law of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi and the sister of Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi. Dubai TV also says its reporter in Tehran has been missing since Sunday.

Opposition Web sites reported new protests and clashes between students and security forces at a university in Tehran Tuesday, as state-run television announced a crackdown on students it accused of being "responsible for seditious acts."

State TV broadcast images of pro-government rallies, two days after tens of thousands of people turned the Shi'ite Muslim religious ritual of Ashura into massive anti-government protests.

Sunday's violence was the most serious in Iran since protests erupted after the disputed June election that gave President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term in office.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.