Tehran: Iran hanged eight men and a woman, all convicted of murder, in a mass execution in Tehran's Evin prison, the Fars news agency reported.

It gave no further details yesterday.

The latest hangings take to at least 243 the number of executions in Iran this year, according to an AFP count.

Amnesty International says Iran carried out more death sentences in 2007 than any other country apart from China, executing 317 people.

Capital offences in the Islamic republic include murder, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and adultery.

Source : PTI