BRITAIN BACKS IRAN'S DRUG WAR

Britain is to step up support for Iran's costly war against heavily
armed drug traffickers from neighbouring Afghanistan and Pakistan,
which is claiming ever more lives in almost daily border clashes.

Iranian commandos killed 16 drug traffickers in a gunfight in
northeastern Iran and freed four hostages, according to local press
reports yesterday. Two weeks ago 36 law enforcement officers were
killed in a gun battle with traffickers in southern Iran that lasted
several hours. About 3,000 Iranian security forces have been killed
since 1983.

Police in London estimate that 90 per cent of the heroin sold on
British streets originates in Afghanistan and the Government has
praised Iran's fight against the drug trade. Britain recently sent
hundreds of flak jackets for Iranian border police.

"The Government recognises the efforts Iran is making and is looking
at ways of providing further assistance, both bilaterally and through
the United Nations Drugs Control Programme," a British diplomat in
Tehran said.

Iran, which has 30,000 troops on drug patrols, has taken the credit
for a 30 per cent fall in the quantity of heroin reaching Europe in
recent years. Major trafficking routes have been blocked by high
concrete walls across mountain passes while deep trenches have been
cut into desert plains overlooked by more than 200 watch towers.