Iranian authorities have banned memorial services for a leading dissident cleric, with the exception of those in his birthplace and the holy city of Qom, two opposition websites reported on Thursday.

The reports on the Kaleme and Parlemannews websites came a day after pro-reform websites said security forces clashed with supporters of late Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri who were gathering for such a service in the city of Isfahan.

Montazeri, a government critic who was born in the central town of Najafabad, died on the night of December 19 in the holy city of Qom. – Reuters