"Iran ethnically cleansing Arabs"

Fierce fighting has flared between ethnic Arabs and Iranian security forces in a province bordering Iraq, media reports said yesterday, with some saying three people had been killed.

Iran's official Irna news agency said clashes erupted on Friday in the Arab—majority oil—rich province of Khuzestan over reported plans to change the ethnic make—up of the area.

Qatar—based satellite television Al Jazeera said three Arabs were killed, many more injured and as many as 250 arrested after banks and police stations were set ablaze.