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Iran pays

tribute

to POWs

TEHRAN: President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Sunday that former Iranian prisoners of war (POWs) were the valuable assets of the Islamic revolution.

"We can bank on such valuable and seasoned persons who have suffered many hardships, in the future," President Rafsanjani pointed out.

Speaking in a special ceremony held to honour the sacrifices of former Iranian POWs both on battle field and during their captivity in Iraqi prisons, he said the bravery of Iranian war prisoners has added a chapter of honour to the history of Iran.

He expressed hope that the rest of Iranian POWs still held in Iraq would be freed.

During the ceremony, President Rafsanjani conferred the second-degree medal of devotion on the former POW, Mohammad Reza Shaeq to highlight the high position of former Iranian war prisoners.-IRNA