Tehran -- Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Shahroudi here on Tuesday ordered setting up a committee to probe the recent unrest in Semirom that left eight killed and tens wounded.

Shahroudi, speaking at a meeting with Judiciary ranking officials, voiced regret over the Semirom developments, and called on the State Inspection Organization and the State Prosecutor's Office to form a special committee and prepare a report on the unrest, IRNA reported.

He said the people must be encouraged to raise their demands through constitutional means to prevent tensions in the society.

The unrest started on Saturday night after a decision by the Isfahan Governor General's Office to incorporate Vardasht district in Semirom within the municipality of Dehaqan provoked the ire of the people of Vardasht.

The people staged a demonstration to protest against the decision but the protests later turned violent. Eight people were reportedly killed in the violence, including two police officers, and some 150 were injured.