An Iranian official says authorities have verified at least 5,000 people killed during protests across Iran, including about 500 security personnel.

* The official blamed the deaths on what he described as �terrorists and armed rioters.�

* He said some of the heaviest clashes and highest death tolls occurred in Kurdish areas in northwest Iran.

* A U.S.-based rights group reported 3,308 confirmed deaths, with thousands more cases under review, and said it documented over 24,000 arrests.