Iran's killer instinct

The assassination of a Tehran university professor, Massoud Ali-Mohammadi, sparked

The assassination of a Tehran university professor, Massoud Ali-Mohammadi, sparked conflicting accusations of guilt. The Iranian authorities blamed America, Israel and an Iranian pro-monarchist exile group. The regime's opponents said the victim had eagerly backed Mir Hosein Mousavi, a thwarted opposition candidate in last year's presidential election, hence his death at the hands of the state. In a new sign of discord in ruling circles, an Iranian parliamentary committee deplored the death in prison of three anti-goverment protesters after June's disputed election and blamed Saeed Mortazavi, a former chief prosecutor of Tehran notedfor his harsh attitude to dissent. A Saudi deputy defence minister said his country's forces had killed hundreds of Yemeni rebels loyal to the Houthi clan in clashes on either side of the Saudi-Yemeni border, but admitted that at least &2 Saudi servicemen had been killed since operations began in November. The Yemeni government said its forces had also inflicted losses on separatist and al-Qaeda-linked rebels elsewhere. The conflict seemed set to persist. After nearly seven weeks away from home, apparently in a hospital in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria's president, Umaru Yar'Adua, broke his silence in a radio interview. He said he was getting better but gave no clue as to when he might return. A campaign calling for him to be replaced by his vi ce - pre si de nt, G oodl uk Jonathan, is gathering steam,A separatist group in Angola's oil-rich enclave of Cabinda killed three people attached to the Togolese football team, who were there to play in an African tournament.