UN rights chief alarmed by surge in Iran executions

UN human rights chief Volker Türk expressed alarm over a rise in executions in Iran, with at least 56 people put to death on national security-related charges since March 19, including 27 linked to January's protests. He urged Tehran to halt all executions and abolish the death penalty, citing lack of fair trials and confessions obtained under torture. More than 100 others face similar charges, and drug-related executions continue at an alarming rate.