The Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, has condemned the killings of an Iranian opposition leader, Dariush Foruhar, and his wife, Parvaneh, who were stabbed to death at their home in Teheran on Sunday.

Mr Khatami ordered the interior ministry to set up a special committee to bring the killers to justice.

Mr Foruhar was one of the most vocal critics of the religious leadership in Iran and his close associates have blamed the Islamic regime for his murder.

A BBC correspondent says Mr Khatami is concerned that the killing may damage the reformist image of his government at home and abroad.