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Iranian man

falls to death

NICOSIA: An Iranian youth fell to his death from a balcony when police raided a flat in Tehran to break up a party, the official Iranian news agency IRNA said on Sunday.

IRNA quoted a law enforcement official as denying foreign media reports that the man fell after a clash with police.

"He stressed that no clash took place between the police and those who were attending the party," IRNA added.

"The source added that the dead man, Alireza Farzanehfar, who was one of those who organised the party, attempted to flee upon seeing the police but erroneously threw himself out through the balcony door, probably due to drunkenness," IRNA said.

Drinking alcohol and holding parties attended by both men and women are banned under Iran's Islamic laws.

The source said the flat belonged to a man who recently returned from abroad and was being used as a venue for parties. He said hashish, alcohol and "obscene video cassettes" were found in the flat.

He said the father of the dead man has lodged a complaint with police against the owner of the flat for causing his son's death.-Reuter