24 May 2011

Fatal blast at Iran refinery during president's visit

9:22 pm on 24 May 2011

Two people have been killed in an explosion and fire at an Iranian oil refinery during a visit by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The semi-official Mehr news agency is reporting that Mr Ahmadinejad was not hurt in the incident in the refinery in Abadan in the south-west.

The explosion was due to a gas leak and that at least 22 people were injured, it says.

Mr Ahmadinejad took control of Iran's lucrative oil and gas industry after dismissing the oil minister earlier in May.

The president has been involved in a power struggle with hardline rulers.