TEHRAN, Feb 14: About 35 people perished and 200 others suffered burns on Monday when a fire swept through a Tehran mosque crammed with worshippers, police said.

The blaze broke out as the faithful packed into the Ark mosque near the main bazaar in the capital for prayers, local media reported.

"According to our initial estimates there are 35 dead," a police commander told reporters at the scene. Media reports said the fire was probably caused by a heater brought into the mosque to protect worshippers from the bitter cold which set a tent ablaze and spread flames like wildfire through the mosque's courtyard.

"My two children were inside. My daughter got out, but I can't find my son," sobbed a woman who gave her name only as Alemeh, outside the mosque. Witnesses said they saw women jumping out of windows to escape the inferno. -AFP