Iranian security officials have cracked down on an obstructionist gang in the northwestern city of Tabriz in the heat of the presidential elections, Press TV reported.
The gang members were planning to disturb the security of the Iranian province of Western Azerbaijan ahead of the presidential elections, a local official revealed on Monday.
The arrests come as presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi visits the provincial capital Tabriz. When a security official in the governor's office was asked to comment, he did not link the two issues.
Security officials and police officers have seized arms, explosives and home-made bombs in the operation against the group, according to IRNA.
The suspects have also been accused of banditry, looting, mischief and drug dealing.
According to Ayub Haghighi, director general of provincial security, two people were killed and some were injured by the gang members during two robberies in the town of Sufian and a holy shrine in western Azerbaijan.
Some stolen property has been recovered from the bandits' hideout. Members of the group have confessed to having sought to disrupt campaign-related public meetings.
...