DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran's top police official said Wednesday authorities have made a series of arrests of suspected opposition activists before expected protest rallies Thursday.
Gen. Ismail Ahmadi Moghaddam said people accused of planning demonstrations were among those arrested. But Moghaddam (Mo-GHA-dam) did not give any specific figures Wednesday on the number of arrests, according to the semiofficial Fars news agency.
Iranian officials have vowed to crush any anti-government rallies that could mar state-backed celebrations for the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. But opposition Web sites are appealing for a large turnout.
At least eight people were killed in clashes during the last major anti-government marches in late December.
