Iran arrests eight 'linked to CIA' in street unrest

Iran has arrested eight people accused of links to the CIA and gathering information to send abroad during deadly street violence that erupted after a fuel price hike triggered demonstrations.

A near-total internet blackout was imposed by the Islamic republic on November 16, the day after it made the shock announcement that petrol prices were immediately going up by as much as 200 percent.

Reports of deaths and arrests emerged as security forces were deployed to rein in demonstrations which turned violent in some areas, with dozens of banks, petrol pumps and police stations torched. New York-based Human Rights Watch on Wednesday accused Tehran of "deliberately covering up" more than 100 deaths and thousands of arrests during the crackdown.

Officials in Iran have confirmed five people were killed and so far announced about 500 arrests, including of some 180 "ringleaders". But Amnesty International said on Monday that at least 143 demonstrators have been killed since November 15 in the crackdown.