The clerical regime has hanged at least 8 persons in recent weeks under various pretexts, reports from Iran say. At least 60 persons have been executed, stoned or hanged in public since Khatami took office in August.

According to the daily, Hamshahri, a man by the name of Rahim was executed in Birjand, eastern Iran, on October 25. Salam daily reported on November 18 that three men were hanged early that morning in Tehran's Qasr prison. On November 19, Kayhan reported the hanging of a man in Sari, northern Iran. On the same day, Hamshahri published another report about the hanging of Hossein Ali-Mohammadi a day before in Shahrood prison, central Iran.

Other reports from Iran indicate that on the morning of November 5, a young man by the name of Kargar, was hanged in public in Jahrom, southern Iran. According to a report on November 17, a 23-year-old man was hanged in Ilam prison.

Extremists Step Up Attacks, The Washington Times, November 24 

BEIRUT - Thousands of demonstrators last week filled the central mosque in the holy Iranian city of Qum, the citadel of Iran's Islamic revolution, demanding the execution of Ayatollah Ali Montazeri and another cleric, Ahmad Azari Qumi.

Other broke into the Koranic school directed by Ayatollah Montazeri, smashing windows and furniture and shouting that this "nest of spies" must be closed.

This was the gravest episode yet in the power struggle, now coming into open, between the two wings of the Islamic Republic…

Last week's violence against Ayatollah Montazeri grew out of a rally in support of Ayatollah Khamenei,. It shows how far the ruling mullahs are ready to go to hold on to their threatened ascendancy….

Five Million Militia Forces Plan Exercises! Reuter, November 24

TEHRAN - Five million members of Iran's volunteer Basij militia members will hold exercises this week to increase their preparedness, Tehran radio said Monday.

It quoted Basij commander Brig. Gen. Alireza Afshar as saying the force members would take part in the maneuvers Wednesday across the country to mark Basij Week.

… It [Basij] has several hundred thousand active members who assist in civil defense and police activity….

Argentina Checks Iran and Congressman on Jewish Bomb, Reuter, November 24

BUENOS AIRES - Argentine investigators looking into the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center that killed 86 people are once again scrutinizing links between Iranian diplomats and a right-wing Argentine congressman.

Security chiefs and the Jewish community said on Monday there was compelling evidence to investigate Argentine congressman and former army rebel Emilio Morello and the Iranian cultural attaché in Buenos Aires, Moshem [Mohsen] Rabbani….

Security Secretary Adrian Pelacchi said Argentina was "checking the so-called Iranian lead and in the light of that we make possibly take measures." …

Eyeing South African Nukes, Associated Press, November 24 

JERUSALEM - Iran is reportedly trying to buy part of South Africa's nuclear program, which was developed in the 1970s and 1980s with Israeli help.

Iran is interested in portable uranium-enrichment facilities and knowledge that would speed up its drive to build nuclear weapons, the Jerusalem Report magazine said Monday….

Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi visited South Africa earlier this month, and the two countries agreed that South Africa would export more products to Iran to balance its large oil imports….

Tehran Deal to Help with Libyan Missile, London Times, November 21

IRAN is suspected of negotiating a secret deal to help Libya to develop a ballistic missile with a range of more than 1,250 miles, posing a threat to Southern and Central Europe as well as North Africa.

After meetings between senior officials representing both countries' missile industries and defense ministries since the beginning of the summer, a memorandum of understanding is believed to have been signed which will significantly expand Iranian missile aid to Libya….

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