Saturday, June 13, 1998 Published at 11:40 GMT 12:40 UK


World: South Asia

Two alleged Iranian agents publicly hanged in Afghanistan


Reports from Afghanistan say the Taleban authorities in the western city of Herat have publicly hanged two men accused of acting as secret agents for Iran.

Taleban radio said the two men were guilty of murdering two Taleban soldiers and carrying out other subversive activities in Herat, in exchange for payment from Iran.

Thousands of people attended the public hangings at a sports stadium on Thursday, the radio reported.

The Taleban authorities in Afghanistan have frequently accused Iran of giving financial and military backing to the opposition Northern Alliance.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service