Iran detains Arabs in pre-poll sweep

Iran is detaining more than 65 members of its Arab minority after security sweeps in Khuzestan province in the southwest ordered over the past few months, Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday. At least some of the arrests were linked to graffiti sprayed on public property hailing the "Arab Spring" revolutions and calling for a boycott of Iran s parliamentary elections due on March 2, the New York-based watchdog said in a statement citing reports by local activists. Two of those arrested -- identified as Mohammad Kaabi, 34, and Nasser Alboshokeh Derafshan, 19 -- died in custody, apparently from torture, Human Rights Watch said. A news "blackout" has been imposed in Iran on the security sweep, which began in November, the group said. It called for the others being detained to be given access to lawyers and family members, and for anyone responsible for torture to be brought to account. Khuzestan, a province on the border with Iraq with up to two million Arabic speakers, has been the scene of chronic anti-government sentiment in recent years, Human Rights Watch said. Iranian officials have accused US and British intelligence services of fomenting ethnic unrest in the province.