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Demonstrations against Iran's clerical rulers appeared to be dying down on their seventh night on Tuesday with uniformed police reining in Islamic militants who attacked protesters with clubs and chains on previous nights.

Students listen to a speaker during a sit-in at Tehran's Amir Kabir University June 16, 2003. [Reuters]

Hundreds of cars once more formed thick traffic jams around Tehran University, the focus of the unrest, with drivers blaring their horns to show support for the students, but their numbers were fewer than before and there was less tension in the air.

Police guarded a cordon around the university in the centre of the city and manned roadblocks to stop plainclothes Islamic hardliners mounted on motorcycles from getting near the campus.

While the Islamic militants report ultimately to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, the police are responsible both to the government of President Mohammad Khatami and Khamenei.

The unrest was first sparked by small student protests against proposed university privatisations, but gained momentum when thousands of ordinary people flocked to the campus after calls on US-based Iranian satellite channels.

The demonstrations differed from protests in previous years in that then students had been largely left to go it alone and the frequent calls for action by exile television channels had been mostly ignored. They also had no clear agenda or goal.

"Every night I came here and brought my family to take part in the protests, but unfortunately because there is no leader, they are condemned to die," said Hashem, a civil servant.

The protesters reserved most of their rage for conservative clerics who control the key reins of power in Iran, but have also condemned the moderate Khatami, accusing him of failing to deliver promised change after six years in office.

But in the early hours of Tuesday, the violent slogans against the clerics which enraged hardline vigilantes were gone, replaced with the sound of car horns.

"It looks like it may calm down for a bit now. But it won't take much to make it flare up again," said one Asian diplomat. "We may see this cycle for some time."

Many in the cars edging slowly through the midnight traffic remained defiant.

"We will come out onto the streets again," vowed teacher Mina. "This will continue because we want freedom," she said.

Iran blames the United States for stirring up the unrest and on Monday said it had sent an official protest to Washington for what it called blatant interference in its internal affairs.

US officials have applauded the protests as a fight for freedom by the Iranian people.

"This is the beginning of people expressing themselves toward a free Iran which I think is positive," said US President George W. Bush.

A spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the demonstrations appeared to reflect frustration at the lack of progress in reform.

"But clearly we believe that constructive dialogue not violent protest is the best way forward," he said.

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