Yerevan Jan. 9 (DPA, NT) - Five Iranians convicted of spying for the United States and Iraq have been sentenced to death by the country's Supreme Court, the Persian daily Kayhan announced Saturday. The paper quoted a reliable source as saying the sentences would be carried out in the near future. According to the paper, three of the five men had been spying for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. The other two were condemned to death for spying on behalf of Iraq and for involvement in an armed operation against Iranian military and economic installations. Kayham said the three men had maintained direct links with the CIA and were involved in recruiting collaborators. They were arrested in 1992. The death sentences were originally handed down by a lower court but referred to the Supreme Court to allow the convicts to seek legal counsel. dpa mb /AA1234/061626 Jan 96

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