Iran Saturday began trials of the " rioters" who were arrested in the disputed presidential election unrests, the official IRNA news agency reported.

IRNA said the trials had begun in a revolutionary court, without mentioning the exact number of the "rioters." Local Fars news agency reported that about 100 suspects were in the dock.

IRNA reported Wednesday around 20 "rioters" would be put on trial, saying that "indictment bills for some of those, accused of participating in the street riots after the election, have been issued by the Judiciary."

"They are charged with being connected to the terrorist groups, bombing, carrying weapons, raiding the Police, Basij (voluntary militia), universities and military bases, sending images to the enemy, organizing vandals and rioters, damaging public and governmental centers," IRNA added.

Protests gripped Tehran and other Iranian cities after the June 12 presidential election, amid claims that the vote had been rigged in favor of incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Iran's state media said the number of people killed in relevant clashes or in custody rose to about 30.

More than 1,000 protestors and dozens of reformist activists were reportedly arrested in the wake of the disputed June election, most of whom the authorities said have been released.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2009)