Death toll rises in Iranian bombings

Tehran, 25 Jan. (AKI) - The number of people killed in multiple bomb attacks in the ethnically troubled south-western city of Ahvaz has risen to nine, the Khobar local news network quoted police as saying on Wednesday. Police said they do not rule out the involvement of foreign powers in Tuesday's bombings, which injured some 46 people.

The blasts damaged a state environmental agency and a bank in the city which is the capital of the oil-rich Khuzestan province, and lies 100 kilometres from the border with Iraq. The province's large ethnic Arab community has repeatedly accused Tehran of discrimination.

Ahvaz was hit by a wave of bomb attacks in June and October last year that the government blamed on Iranian Arab extremists whom it claimed were being supported by foreign governments, such as Britain. The October bombings killed six people and those in June killed at least eight people.

In recent weeks, Iran has repeatedly accused Britain of provoking unrest in the Khuzestan province, which borders that part of Iraq where 8,500 British soldiers are based as part of the United States-led military coalition.

Britain has denied any involvement in the disturbances in Khuzestan.