One of Iran's most outspoken anti-government clerics, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri died on Saturday at the age of 87.  It was he who led the spiritual movement against the current Iranian government after the disputed June elections which spawned ongoing protests centred in the burgeoning youth/student movement and the middle class.  It can't be verified by independent media sources because all foreign media has been banned from visiting the holy city of Qom to view the funeral procession, but reports indicate that hundreds of thousands of people turned up to participate and mourn the death of the Ayatollah.  However, the government placed the dreaded Basij all over the city, who are plain clothed thugs who are not above terrorizing citizens and even murder, and are employed by the Iranian government to crack down protesters. 

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