IRAN. EXECUTION PLEA OVER IRAN YOUTHS

Amnesty International called on Iran to halt the execution of two teenagers following their convictions for murder.
The two young men had their sentences upheld by the Supreme Court and were at risk of imminent execution, the group said. Amnesty described Iran's continued execution of minors as "a growing concern". Iran denied that it carried out the execution of juveniles. Sixteen-year-old Mostafa had been convicted of killing a drunken man in Tehran, the rights group said. Seventeen-year-old Sina had been convicted of a drug-related murder that also took place in Tehran, Amnesty said.
"Iran's defiance of the international ban on executing child offenders is a growing concern and calls into question its willingness to abide by international human rights standards, " said Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen. Iran had executed at least seven child offenders so far in 2005, according to Amnesty.