TEHRAN – Anti-government demonstrations that began in one city on Thursdayhave now spread to several major cities in Iran.

Large numbers reportedly turned out in Rasht, in the north, and Kermanshah,in the west, with smaller protests in Isfahan, Hamadan and elsewhere.

The protests began against rising prices but have spiralled into a generaloutcry against clerical rule and government policies.

A small number of people have been arrested in Tehran, the capital.

They were among a group of 50 people who gathered in a city square,Tehran’s deputy governor-general for security affairs told the IranianLabour News Agency.

The governor-general of Tehran earlier said that any such gatherings wouldbe firmly dealt with by the police, who are out in force on mainintersections.

An initial BBC report of a demonstration in the southern city of Shiraz wasnot confirmed.

The demonstrations are the most serious and widespread expression of publicdiscontent in Iran since protests in 2009 that followed a disputedelection, correspondents say.

Demonstrators were reportedly heard yelling slogans including “The peopleare begging, the clerics act like God”. Protests have even been held inQom, a holy city home to powerful cleric.

The biggest protest on Thursday was in the north-eastern city of Mashhad,where there were 52 arrests.

There have been calls on social media for protests up and down the country,despite warnings from the government against illegal gatherings.

Videos posted on social media purport to show clashes between securityforces and some demonstrators in Kermanshah on Friday.’Harsh slogans’

The protests on Thursday started with anger at the inability of thegovernment of President Hassan Rouhani to control prices – the cost of eggshas doubled in a week.

However, some developed into broader anti-government protests, calling forthe release of political prisoners and an end to police beatings.