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| Iran executes three men for mosque bombing | |
| (about 15 hours later) | |
| Three men convicted of bombing an Iranian mosque two days ago have been publicly executed, state media says. | Three men convicted of bombing an Iranian mosque two days ago have been publicly executed, state media says. |
| The bombing killed at least 19 people during evening prayers in the south-east city of Zahedan on Thursday. | The bombing killed at least 19 people during evening prayers in the south-east city of Zahedan on Thursday. |
| The three men, who were hanged on Saturday morning near the mosque, were already in custody before the attack. | The three men, who were hanged on Saturday morning near the mosque, were already in custody before the attack. |
| One Iranian official had earlier accused the US of hiring mercenaries to carry out the bombing - a claim dismissed by Washington. | One Iranian official had earlier accused the US of hiring mercenaries to carry out the bombing - a claim dismissed by Washington. |
| The men were arrested before Thursday's bombing in connection with other attacks, including a 2007 attack on Iran's Revolutionary Guard in which 11 people died. | The men were arrested before Thursday's bombing in connection with other attacks, including a 2007 attack on Iran's Revolutionary Guard in which 11 people died. |
| Authorities said they were tried and had legal representation. | Authorities said they were tried and had legal representation. |
| A spokesman for the Sistan-Baluchestan province's judiciary said the three people "confessed to illegally bringing explosives into Iran and giving them to the main person behind the bombing." | A spokesman for the Sistan-Baluchestan province's judiciary said the three people "confessed to illegally bringing explosives into Iran and giving them to the main person behind the bombing." |
| Spokesman Hojatoeslam Ebrahim Hamidi added: "They were convicted of being 'mohareb' (enemies of God) and 'corrupt on the earth' and acting against national security," Irna reported. | Spokesman Hojatoeslam Ebrahim Hamidi added: "They were convicted of being 'mohareb' (enemies of God) and 'corrupt on the earth' and acting against national security," Irna reported. |
| Part of a Shia mosque, Amir al-Mohini, was destroyed in Zahedan, a mainly Sunni Muslim city. | Part of a Shia mosque, Amir al-Mohini, was destroyed in Zahedan, a mainly Sunni Muslim city. |
| A Sunni militant group had claimed responsibility, with Abdel Raouf Rigi, described as a spokesman for the Jundallah group, telling Saudi-owned TV channel Al-Arabiya that a suicide bomber had targeted a secret meeting of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards inside the mosque. | A Sunni militant group had claimed responsibility, with Abdel Raouf Rigi, described as a spokesman for the Jundallah group, telling Saudi-owned TV channel Al-Arabiya that a suicide bomber had targeted a secret meeting of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards inside the mosque. |
| When an Iranian official accused the US of being behind the bombing, a US state department spokesman denied any involvement. | When an Iranian official accused the US of being behind the bombing, a US state department spokesman denied any involvement. |
| The bombing, described by the Iranian media as a suicide attack, came at a time of heightened tension ahead of upcoming presidential elections . | The bombing, described by the Iranian media as a suicide attack, came at a time of heightened tension ahead of upcoming presidential elections . |
| A day after the bombing, the href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/8074640.stm">President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Zahedan campaign office was attacked by gunmen. | |
| The government has warned that foreign powers are trying to sabotage the process, the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says. | |
| With President Ahmadinejad facing an increasingly tough battle for re-election, any growing sense of crisis will certainly not do any harm to this fiercely nationalist and populist leader, our correspondent says. |