Prosecutor gives 4th cause of doc's death

TEHRAN, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- A doctor who opposition leaders said witnessed the torture of political prisoners in Iran died from poisoned food, Tehran's public prosecutor said.

The announcement Wednesday that Ramin Pourandarjani's death was caused by a poison-laced salad raises the possible causes of death to four, The Times of London reported Thursday.

Opposition leaders said Pourandarjani, 26, was forced to list the cause of death of Mohsen Ruholamini, son of a prominent conservative, as meningitis while Ruholamini was imprisoned as part of the government crackdown after the disputed presidential election in June.

Opposition Iranian Web sites said Pourandarjani testified before a parliamentary committee that Ruholamini was tortured, and that he (Pourandarjani) had received death threats, the British newspaper said.

After Pourandarjani's death Nov. 10, officials offered three possible scenarios saying he was in a fatal car crash, he died of a heart attack and that he committed suicide.

"It is impossible to accuse him of suicide," Masood Pezeshkian, a reformist legislator, told the Times. "The idea of suicide by someone who had no problems and no serious diseases -- and was present during the events in Kahrizak (prison) -- seems questionable."

Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have called for an independent investigation into Pourandarjani's death.

"If the Iranian authorities have nothing to hide, they should welcome the opportunity to dispel the cloud of doubt and suspicion surrounding the death of Dr. Pourandarjani by inviting international experts to participate," said Elise Auerbach, Amnesty International's Iran specialist.