June 19, 2003	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 18, 1424

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PARIS, June 18: Three people set themselves on fire here on Wednesday to protest a French crackdown on the People’s Mujahedeen, amid calls by Tehran for detained members of the Iranian armed opposition group to be extradited.

Two Iranian women, one of whom was earlier reported dead, were in a critical condition, while hospital sources said a male protester was seriously hurt. Another man in London was in serious condition after setting himself on fire.

A fifth man in Switzerland failed to ignite his petrol-doused clothing.

The self-immolation protests in Paris were carried out near the offices of the French counter-intelligence services (DST), where more than two dozen suspects were being questioned after being detained during Tuesday’s raids.

About 50 protesters marched outside the DST offices, pledging not to budge until Maryam Rajavi, the figurehead of the People’s Mujahedeen seen as their future “president-elect”, was released from custody.

The activists, waving Iranian flags and pictures of the Rajavis, expressed outrage over Tuesday’s raids on its members.

Police initially detained more than 150 people — 26 of whom were still being held — and seized about eight million dollars in cash, as well as sophisticated computer equipment.

The People’s Mujahedeen — considered by the United States, the European Union and Iran to be a “terrorist” group — issued a statement condemning the French police for using unwarranted force during the “unjustifiable and shameful” raids. —AFP