The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Tehran

Iran executed 29 convicted drug smugglers and "bandits" on Sunday morning in Tehran's Evin prison, the state broadcaster's website IRIB reported.

"Twenty-nine drug smugglers and well-known bandits were hanged in Evin prison on Sunday at dawn. These criminals had smuggled thousands of kilos of narcotics in the country and outside the country," IRIB reported.

Iran said on Saturday it planned to execute 30 people for murder, rape, drug smuggling and other crimes.

Police have in recent weeks arrested dozens of people in a new crackdown on "immoral behavior" in the Islamic Republic, whose human rights record is often criticized in the West.

"Some of these people were convicted of other crimes such as rape, murder, armed robbery t and disrupting public security and peace," IRIB said.

Iran usually carries out executions by hanging and in prisons. Sunday's executions all took place at 0510 (8:40 p.m. Saturday EDT), according to IRIB.

At least 10 people were hanged in the country in July. In September last year, 21 people were executed in one day, but in two different places.