CBS: At least 12,000 killed in Iran unrest

(Patria) - Information coming from Iran suggests that the authorities' crackdown on mass anti-government protests was significantly deadlier than previously believed.

After partially restoring phone connections from the country, sources told CBS News that at least 12,000, and possibly up to 20,000 people, were killed in the violence.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated in parliament that the British government believes around 2,000 people have died, warning that the final figure could be significantly higher.

Determining the actual number of victims is difficult because Iranian authorities have been blocking internet and phone connections for five days.

Iranian authorities do not release regular official data.

Reuters quoted an unnamed Iranian official who claims that about 2,000 people have died since the protests began on December 28, while the opposition television Iran International states it has information about about 12,000 killed.

Meanwhile, the authenticity of a video from a Tehran morgue showing the bodies of hundreds of deceased with severe injuries has been confirmed.