Iran's top judge gives nod to torture reports

CAIRO, Egypt - The new head of Iran's judiciary suggested yesterday that he would prosecute security agents accused of torture in the postelection crackdown, a nod from the country's conservative leadership to widespread anger at reports that jailed protesters were abused.

Sadeq Larijani was sworn in as head of the powerful judiciary after being named to the post by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The appointment could be a sign of how Khamenei is seeking balance among factions within the conservative camp, which has seen angry feuds between supporters and critics of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Larijani is the brother of parliament speaker Ali Larijani, who is seen as a top conservative rival of the president. Khamenei has strongly backed Ahmadinejad in the postelection crisis, but the judiciary appointment suggests he wants to keep the president in check with other conservatives.

The appointment comes amid mounting anger over reports of torture and other abuse against protesters detained in the crackdown that followed the disputed June 12 presidential election.

The opposition says at least 69 people were killed, including some who died in prison from beatings and other abuse. The opposition and some clerics have called for those who committed torture to be prosecuted.

Even some conservatives have denounced the abuse - a sign that some in the conservative camp believe the issue must be addressed to ease public anger.

During his swearing-in yesterday, Sadeq Larijani said that "nobody should dare ... to violate rights or security of citizens," state TV reported.

"I announce that I will not forgive anybody in this regard and violators will be put on trial," Larijani, 49, said.

At the swearing-in ceremony, Ahmadinejad vowed to "support the implementation of justice."

So far authorities have taken no public action against any members of the security forces over abuse allegations. Instead, the judiciary began a major trial of those arrested in the crackdown.

An attempt to prosecute any security forces could spark political strains in the conservative camp. It could embarrass Ahmadinejad and anger the powerful Revolutionary Guard, the elite force that led the crackdown and that is close to Ahmadinejad.

The ultimate decision whether to prosecute is likely to come from Khamenei. He gets strong support from the Revolutionary Guard, but he could make some concession to pressure for prosecution of torture cases.

Meanwhile, Iran's prosecutor general ordered the closure yesterday of the pro-reform newspaper Etemad-e Melli for "publishing articles against national security and public expedience." The paper had run articles on claims by opposition figure Mahdi Karroubi that some detainees were raped in prison. Karroubi heads the political party that runs the newspaper.

Dozens of Karroubi supporters protested the closure during a rally in central Tehran. Security forces fired tear gas to disperse the protesters, arresting at least 12, according to witnesses, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of government reprisals.