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Iran 'executes Sunni militants' Iran 'executes Sunni militants'
(about 1 hour later)
Iran has executed members of a Sunni rebel group blamed for a spate of attacks in the south-east of the country, state media says. Iran has executed at least 13 members of a Sunni rebel group blamed for a spate of attacks in the south-east of the country, state media says.
However, there are conflicting reports as to whether all 14 of those convicted have been hanged or just some of them. There are conflicting reports as to whether one of the leaders of the Jundollah (God's Soldiers) group has also been hanged.
Tehran says the men are members of the Jundollah (God's Soldiers) Sunni group which it blames for a series of bombings and killings. Tehran blames the group for a series of attacks including the bombing of a mosque in May which killed 25 people.
Amnesty International had appealed for a stay of execution.Amnesty International had appealed for a stay of execution.
It said the convicts did not receive a fair trial. It said that the convicts had not received a fair trial.
The semi-official Fars news agency reported on Monday that the 14 would be executed in public in the city of Zahedan, in the south-eastern Sistan-Baluchestan province.The semi-official Fars news agency reported on Monday that the 14 would be executed in public in the city of Zahedan, in the south-eastern Sistan-Baluchestan province.
It said those to be hanged included the brother of the group's leader, Abdolmalek Rigi, who it described as Jundollah's second-in-command. It said those to be hanged included Abdolhamid Rigi - the brother of the group's leader Abdolmalek Rigi - who it described as Jundollah's second-in-command.
But Ebrahim Hamidi, who heads the judiciary in the province, told Fars on Tuesday that the sentence for "some" of those convicted had been carried out inside a prison. 'Executed in prison'
He said that Rigi's brother would be executed later in the week. Ebrahim Hamidi, who heads the judiciary in the province, told the official IRNA news agency on Tuesday that 13 of the group had been hanged inside a jail.
However, Iran state radio reported on Tuesday that all 14 had been executed. "After last minute consultations, the executions were carried out in a prison," Mr Hamidi is quoted as saying.
It quoted Zahedan's prosecutor, Mohammad Marzieh, as saying the men were hanged for killing dozens of civilians, policemen and for bombings in the area. Abdolhamid Rigi was not among those hanged on Tuesday but would be executed later this week, the report said.
Repeated attacks However, Iran state radio reported on Tuesday that all 14 of the group had been executed.
Iran, which is predominantly Shia Muslim, says Jundollah is part of the Sunni Islamist al-Qaeda network. It quoted Zahedan's prosecutor, Mohammad Marzieh, as saying that the men had been hanged for killing dozens of civilians, policemen and for bombings in the region.
Most people in Sistan-Baluchestan are Sunni Muslims and ethnic Baluchis.
The provincial capital Zahedan, near the border with Afghanistan and Pakistan, is the centre of a rebellion by Baluchis.
Predominantly Shia Muslim Iran says that Jundollah is part of the Sunni Islamist al-Qaeda network.
Jundollah has claimed repeated attacks in the province, including a bombing in May in a Shia mosque in Zahedan that killed 25 people, Iranian media say.Jundollah has claimed repeated attacks in the province, including a bombing in May in a Shia mosque in Zahedan that killed 25 people, Iranian media say.
Human rights groups accuse Iran of making excessive use of the death penalty but Tehran insists it is an effective deterrent that is used only after a lengthy judicial process.Human rights groups accuse Iran of making excessive use of the death penalty but Tehran insists it is an effective deterrent that is used only after a lengthy judicial process.