TEHRAN, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- One police officer was killed and several others wounded on Tuesday in armed clashes with alleged "rioters" in Iran's western Ilam province, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.
The violence broke out after the burial of two individuals who had been killed during a protest on Saturday in Malekshahi County. Fars said that nearly 100 mourners split from the main procession, entered the city, and damaged three banks.
Police called on the group to disperse, but some individuals reportedly opened fire on officers. The slain officer, identified as Ehsan Aghajani, was shot in the chest and later died in hospital. Casualty figures for the protesters were not available.
Protests have spread to several Iranian cities since late December over the sharp depreciation of the rial. Authorities have pledged to address economic grievances while warning against violence, vandalism, and unrest. ■
