At least 295 people were killed in the Iran train explosion, state radio reported today. But other officials gave lower figures.

A train carrying fuel and industrial chemicals exploded in northeastern Iran today, killing more than 200 people and destroying five villages.

A man has confessed to killing 16 prostitutes in Iran’s holy city of Mashhad, but three other murders blamed on him were carried out by copycats, a provincial police chief said today.