Strife in Iran continues; forming Cabinet is shaky

Iranian authorities marched 72 people before a firing squad during the weekend, the leftist opposition replied with seven killings, and Iran's Cabinet showed signs of dissension even before gaining rubber stamp parliament approval.

Amid continuing violence around the nation from counterrevolutionary forces, revolutionary firing squads executed more members of the leftist Mujahideen-e Khalq guerrillas, bringing to more than 500 the number put to death since President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr was ousted.

After two days of debate, Iran's parliament approved all but one person for the proposed 22-member Cabinet. But signs that the new government already faced internal difficulties surfaced as the energy minister nominee declared his unwillingness to participate in the new government.