Child killer executed in public

A MAN who raped and murdered 16 boys was lashed 100 times and then hanged in front of a large Iranian crowd who pelted him with stones and scuffled with police yesterday.

Mohammed Bijeh, aged 23, confessed in court to the killings, between March and September 2004.

He burned the bodies of his victims, all boys between eight and 15.

Bijeh was given a death sentence for each murder and 100 lashes of the whip for the rapes.

His accomplice, Ali Gholampour, was convicted of taking part in some of the kidnappings, to which he confessed.

He was sentenced to 15 years in jail and 100 lashes.

Bijeh's verdict was carried out in Pakdasht, the impoverished town where the killings took place, outside the capital Tehran, after being upheld by the Supreme Court.

About 5,000 spectators including women and children watched the flogging and hanging. Riot police circled the area.

Some of the crowd threw stones at Bijeh as he was flogged, hands tied to a pole. He fell three times as he received the lashes.

A family member of one of the victims broke police security and attacked Bijeh with a knife, wounding his back before police dragged him away.

After the flogging, a rope was put around Bijeh's neck and attached to a hook on a crane. The crane's arm jerked upward and Bijeh's body dangled, drawing applause from the crowd.

Some people burst into tears, crying out the names of their children.

After 20 minutes, the body was lowered and a doctor confirmed the death.

Many in the crowd, some of them family members of the victims, repeatedly tried to approach Bijeh's body but were prevented by police. Scuffles continued for at least half an hour.

The case provoked outrage in Iran. Sixteen police officers were reprimanded for dereliction of duty and the Interior Ministry criticised the police for failing to catch the suspects after the first crime.

Prisoners are hanged in public in Iran only if a court deems their offences deeply affected public sentiment.

Hardliners control Iran's courts but reformists say public executions hurt the country's image abroad and reflect badly on Islam.