Iran hangs five drug trafficker in prison

Tehran: Iran on Monday hanged five convicted drug traffickers in prison in the central city of Shahroud, the Fars news agency reported.

The report did not identify those executed.

The latest hanging brings to 192 the number of executions reported in Iran so far this year, according to an AFP tally based on media and official reports.

Iranian media reported 179 hangings last year but international human rights groups say the actual number was much higher, ranking the Islamic republic second only to China in the number of people it executed in 2010.

Tehran says the death penalty is essential to maintain law and order, and that it is applied only after exhaustive judicial proceedings.

Murder, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and adultery are among the crimes punishable by death in Iran.