Tehran: Iran has shut down the mobile phone network in central Tehran to block supporters of Mirhossein Mousavi communicating with each other, a reformist website said.
"The network in central Tehran and near Tehran university is completely down," according to Rah-e Sabz website, media reports say.
There are also reports of Iranian police arresting at least two women supporters of opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi in front of Tehran University.
Meanwhile, hundreds of police surrounded the Tehran University to block planned protests on the annual Students Day Monday.
Students Day observes the 1953 killing of three students by the shah's forces, months after Iranian premier Mohammad Mossadeq was toppled with US backing.
This year’s protest is expected to be used by supporters of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi to stage demonstrations against president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Ahmadinejad's re-election in the June 12 poll was rejected by the opposition which alleged massive rigging to ensure his return.
Foreign media has been banned from covering the protests on Monday and Internet access was reportedly cut in central Tehran.
Police and the Revolutionary Guards have warned that any rally will be confronted.
Some websites called on people to gather near the university campus, where the main state-rally will take place.
In September, opposition demonstrators clashed with government backers and police at annual pro-Palestinian rallies. Security forces also clashed with the opposition during an anti-US rally on November 4.
On Saturday Iran banned foreign media from reporting on the rally. Journalists are not allowed to leave their offices to cover stories from December 7 to December 9.
A witness told a news agency that dozens of plainclothes security forces had gathered in a northern Tehran square.
"Tens of plainclothes with motorbikes are at Tajrish square. More of them are joining the group," said the witness.
Mousavi criticised the clerical establishment on Sunday for suppressing students, saying the reform movement was alive in Iran despite pressure from the authorities to end it, his Kaleme website reported.
The volunteer Basij militia, alongside the Guards which is a key powerbase for Ahmadinejad, put down the June protests and arrested thousands.
Most of have since been freed, but over 80 people have so far been sentenced to jail terms of up to 15 years and five people have been sentenced to death. The reformist opposition says more than 70 people were killed in post-election violence. Officials say the death toll was half that and included Basij militiamen.
Keep up to date with the latest developments on the ground in Iran as the election protests grow.
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