Afghans Demonstrate Against Iranian Executions

KABUL -- Hundreds of Afghans have staged a protest in front of the Iranian Embassy in Kabul, during which they set ablaze an effigy of Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad.

The chanting protesters were condemning last month's executions of Afghan prisoners in Iran, and also what they termed as Iran's mistreatment of Afghan refugees living in that country.

One of the organizers of the protest, Abdul Mobin, told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan that their aim is to highlight the importance of Afghan lives.

The demonstrators called on the Afghan government to take strong action against the executions.

According to recent reports, Iran has executed a number of Afghan prisoners for crimes such as drug smuggling.

Radio Free Afghanistan says a spokesman from the Afghan Foreign Ministry, Abdul Zahir Faqiri, confirmed the executions, however, he could not give an exact number of those executed.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Afghans_Demonstrate_Against_Iranian_Executions_/2030500.html