Iranian speaker warns protests over woman’s death could destabilise country

An activist wears a message on her protective face mask “Stop Killing Us” during a protest against the death of Iranian Mahsa Amini in Iran, in Beirut, Lebanon (AP)

Iran’s parliamentary speaker has warned that protests over the death of a young woman in police custody could destabilise the country, and urged security forces to deal harshly with those who he said endanger public order.

Posts on social media showed there were scattered anti-government protests in Tehran and running clashes with security forces in other towns on Sunday, even as the government moved to partly or entirely block internet connectivity in Iran.