By Elwely Elwelly

DUBAI, Jan 1 (Reuters) - Several people were killed during unrest in Iran on Thursday, an Iranian news agency and a rights group reported, as the biggest protests to hit the country for three years over soaring inflation sparked violence in several provinces.

The semi-official Fars news agency cited a "source with knowledge" as saying several people were killed in clashes on Thursday morning between police and what it said were armed protesters in Lordegan in western Iran.

The rights group, Hengaw, also reported deaths in Lordegan, saying security forces had fired on protesters, killing and wounding several of them.

VIOLENCE REPORTED IN SEVERAL CITIES

Thursday's clashes in Lordegan, along with reported deaths of a security services member overnight and another protester on Wednesday, mark a significant escalation in the unrest that has spread across Iran since shopkeepers began protesting on Sunday.

The Revolutionary Guards said on Thursday morning a member........

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