Iran sent riots squads into the holy city of Qom fearing the death of Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, the Islamic Republic’s most senior dissident cleric, threatened a new wave of protests. By Richard Spencer in Dubai Published: 3:23PM GMT 20 Dec 2009 Students chanting pro-reform slogans filled university campuses following the death of the Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri from a heart attack at the age of 87. His grandson, Nasser Montazeri, said he had died in his sleep. Ayatollah Montazeri was originally a follower of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary, and was seen in the 1980s as his natural successor.

But he came to oppose the dictatorial nature of the regime, particularly its mass executions of members of an opposition movement in the years before Ayatollah Khomeini’s death, and ended up one of its fiercest critics.

He spent five years in the late 1990s under house arrest, and even after his release he continued to oppose what he termed the regime’s repression. He attacked the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad earlier this year. Nevertheless, he remained in Qom, the holy city seen as the regime’s birthplace, and supporters were converging on the city from all over the country to attend his funeral, due to take place today/Monday. Reformist websites last night were also reporting that crowds were gathering in Tehran. “My grandfather died in his sleep last night,” said Nasser Montazeri. “People and friends are coming to express their condolences but there are no special security measures around our house.” Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/6851224/Grand-Ayatollah-Montazeri-death-sparks-protests.html Tagheer, the website of the reformist defeated election candidate Mehdi Karroubi said: “The social network of the reform movement has called on its supporters to gather in Mohseni Square (in Tehran) to mourn. Based on reports people have already gathered in some other squares in Tehran.” By yesterday evening more security forces had been put on alert out of fear the funeral could become yet another focus for opposition rallies. Tagheer said there were reports of riot squads being seen in various parts of Qom. Videos were already being posted by midafternoon on YouTube of impromptu gatherings at universities of students who chanted slogans in his memory. In one, they can be heard shouting: “Montazeri, you are finally free.” In his home town, Najafabad, shops were closed and crowds poured into the streets. Mourners chanted: “Innocent Montazeri, your path will continue.”