Peace prize winner says blackout is a tactic; exiled activist says she was told hundreds hospitalized with eye injuries from pellet gun fire; international phone calls also blocked

Iran's government has shut down the internet as huge protests continue to spread across the country.

Iranian Nobel peace prize winner Shirin Ebadi on Friday warned security forces in the Islamic republic could be preparing to commit a "massacre under the cover of a sweeping communications blackout" after imposing a nationwide internet shutdown.