IRAN: NEW EXPLOSION IN AHWAZ

Tehran, 3 March (AKI) - Just a few hours after the public execution of two Arab separatists in the south-western Iranian city of Ahwaz, a bomb attack was reported in the capital of the Khuzestan province late on Thursday. Ali Afrawi and Mehdi Nawaseri were hanged for the October 2005 attack in Ahwaz which killed six people and wounded at least 30 passers-by. Another two explosions had preceded the execution. No one was reportedly injured. The attacks were part of a series of bombings in the city of Ahwaz, in Khuzestan province, following unrest a year ago in which ethnic Arabs protested against alleged discrimination by the Persian majority.

Over 1.5 million Arabs live in Iran's southern regions.

Iranian officials have blamed the attacks on British forces stationed in southern Iraq - an allegation strongly denied by Britain.

Thirteen people, including the two men hanged on Thursday, have been executed in Iran since 20 January this year.