Kiwi tweeting 'from scene of Tehran rioting' - reports

A man who claims to be a New Zealander sending live messages to the world from ground zero at the Tehran riots is gaining a big following on the social networking website Twitter.

And reportedly, even media groups are becoming dependent on him for news updates from an otherwise blocked-out location.

This morning he aleady had 23,000 followers, and is fast becoming a Twitter sensation.

Using the nom-de-plume 'Persiankiwi', he has been updating followers on events as they unfold in the unsettled city, where outrage continues on the streets after Friday's presidential election - won by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad - but which protesters say was rigged.

Supporters of defeated presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi have been venting their rage, which has met with a stern police response.

Here's a sample of his most recent brief, but dramatic, bulletins:

(all times NZT)

7.30am Reports of street fighting in azadi sq and surrounding st's -pepper gas and fires #Iranelection

6.25am Sorry for not responding to soooo many follower. v bad internet connection - thank u everybody 4 following.

6.20am Our scout at Evin reports many many prisoners being brought and high security outside.

4.40am Unconfmd major incident at Azadi - shooting - fires - ppl running.

4.15am Call from Niavaran saying plainclothes going door2door now looking for satellite dsh.

And on it goes.

You can follow his Twitter feed here.

- NZHERALD STAFF