Five more hanged in Iran, total executions for year climbs to 249

Iran held executions for four men convicted of drug trafficking in the southern Hormozgan Province, and a man convicted of murder in the city of Isfahan, Agence France-Presse reported Sunday.

According to an AFP count, the total executions for 2007 have reached at least 249. Executions in the country have increased dramatically in the past few months as a campaign said to boost security and promote virtue in society is enforced.

Reports did not say if the executions were held in public.

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