Thousands attend funeral of man killed in Iranian protests

Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- Thousands of people, many of them Iranian government supporters, turned up in Tehran on Wednesday for the funeral of a man killed in anti-government protests.

The gathering near Tehran University comes amid tension in the nation following a crackdown on anti-government protests.

Government officials said 26-year-old Saneh Jaleh was shot to death Monday by members of an outlawed group called the People's Mujahedeen of Iran. The group, which is also known as the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization, has opposed the Iranian government for decades.

Government officials have also said that Jaleh was part of the pro-government Basij militia. But some who knew Jaleh dispute that account.
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Many in the funeral procession were shouting anti-American slogans. Some in the crowd held signs calling for the prosecution of opposition leaders Mehdi Karrubi and Mir Hossein Moussavi.

Iranian lawmakers have accused Karrubi and Moussavi of inciting Monday's anti-government protests, and called for their execution.

Last week, the Iranian government rounded up activists after Karrubi and Moussavi called for supporters to gather at Azadi Square -- the site of mass protests by Iran's opposition movement after the disputed 2009 presidential elections.

Despite the security crackdown, tens of thousands of demonstrators marched in Tehran on Monday.

Iranian leaders have praised Egypt's revolution, but cracked down on anti-government protesters.