Iran executes two men in crackdown

Iran executed two men accused of involvement in an armed anti-government group yesterday.

The announcements marked an escalation by the courts enforcing the clerical leadership's crackdown on the opposition. The prosecutor also said a new group of protesters and others would be brought to trial.

The two men who were hanged before dawn yesterday did not appear to be connected to the post-election protests. But state media depicted the two as part of the protest movement, a sign of how the government has used the crackdown to pursue other enemies.

Tehran's prosecutor said five people have been sentenced to death for involvement in the most recent demonstration, on 27 December.