5 SENTENCED TO DEATH IN ALLEGED KILLING

CAIRO Iranian authorities sentenced five people to death for allegedly killing a member of a paramilitary force affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard, state media said Tuesday. Eleven others received lengthy prison sentences.

The 13 men and three minors had been charged with killing Ruhollah Ajamian, a member of the Basij, a paramilitary volunteer branch of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard, according to the report from IRNA, Iran's state news agency.

A judiciary spokesman provided no evidence to support any of the accusations. IRNA said the sentences can be appealed.

The alleged killing took place in Karaj, near Tehran, on Nov. 12 when a group of men chased and attacked Ajamian with knives and stones, the report said.

The sentencings come amid months of anti-government demonstrations.