By Mohammad Qorshon and Mustafa Melih Ahishali 

TEHRAN

The death toll of Iranian security forces killed in clashes with a Shia religious group in capital Tehran rose to five, according to an Iranian official.

Demonstrators took to the streets in northern Tehran late Monday to protest a security cordon imposed around the house of Gonabadi Dervishes leader Nour Ali Tabandeh. 

Three policemen were killed when they were hit by a bus driven by one of the protesters, the official IRNA news agency quoted police spokesman Muntadar al-Mahdi as saying. 

Fars news agency said the driver was a member of the Shia group. 

Al-Mahdi said a member of the Basij forces was killed when a protester rammed his car into him, while another Basij member was stabbed to death. 

According to the spokesman, 30 security personnel were injured during the clashes. 

No information is yet available about casualties among protesters. 

According to the Gonabadi Dervishes group, 12 protesters were arrested by Iranian security forces during the clashes.