October 22, 2007	Monday	Shawwal 9, 1428

TEHRAN, Oct 21: Five people have been hanged in public for drug trafficking offences in the eastern Iranian city of Birjand, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Sunday.

The figure is already well above that for 2006, when at least 177 people were hanged, according to Amnesty International.

Capital offences in Iran include murder, rape, armed robbery, serious drug trafficking and adultery.

Last week, the Iranian authorities arrested anti-death penalty activist Emaddedin Baghi, leader of the Committee for the Defence of Prisoners’ Rights, who has received awards from Western countries for his work.—AFP