++ Violence flares after Shiite cleric's execution - live updates +++

Deadly violence has been reported in Saudi Arabia and Iraq following Riyadh's execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr. Diplomatic ties between regional foes Iran and Saudi Arabia have been severed. Read the latest here.

Saudi-Iran tensions have hit rock bottom since Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr's execution on Saturday, along with three other Shiites and 43 members of al Qaeda, who Saudi Arabia found guilty of terrorism. On Sunday morning, the Saudi embassy in Tehran was attacked by protesters, leading Riyadh to sever ties with Iran. On Monday, the war of words between Iran and Saudi intensified and more violence was reported across the region.




All updates in Universal Coordinated Time (UTC)

08:55 Nimr's brother Mohammed al-Nimr has told The Associated Press that Saudi officials have informed his family that the cleric had been buried in an undisclosed cemetery.

The news agency suggested the revelation could lead to further protests in his hometown on Monday.

08:23 AFP reports that further protests are expected in Iraq's capital Baghdad on Monday in the wake of the cleric's execution, called by prominent cleric and militia leader Moqtada al-Sadr.

07:55 Reuters reports that Syrian rebel group Jaysh al Islam has welcomed Riyadh's severing of ties with Iran, saying that Tehran's backing of Shiite militias was destabilizing the Middle East and worsening tensions in Syria.

The group's leader was killed in a December 26 airstrike blamed on the Syrian regime, which is backed by Iran.

07:14 Two Sunni mosques have been bombed in central Iraq, in apparent retaliation for the cleric al-Nimr's killing.

AFP reports that groups of men wearing military uniforms bombed two mosques and a muezzin - who leads prayers at a mosque - was shot dead near his home in Iskandariyah.

06:42 Iran's deputy foreign minister said Saudi Arabia cut relations with Tehran to cover up its own domestic problems.

In comments broadcast on state TV, Hossein Amir Abdollahian said the decision could not cover up Riyadh's "strategic mistake" in executing Nimr.

06:36 Oil prices rose in Asia on Monday morning as tensions worsened between Iran and Saudi.

Brent crude for February was trading 91 cents, or 2.44 percent, higher at $38.19.

06:24 Police in Saudi Arabia said they came under "heavy fire" during an attack on Sunday night in the eastern village of Awamiya, the birthplace of the cleric who was executed on Saturday, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

One civilian was killed and an eight-year-old child was wounded during the incident in Awamiya town, in the oil-producing Eastern Province. Security forces are scouring the area for the assailants, SPA reported.

mm/se (Reuters, dpa, AFP, AP)