TEHRAN Bench 5 of the Tehran Military Court, presided over by Judge Mohammadreza Aqiqi, resumed Monday the closed-door trial of 18 defendants accused of carrying out the 1998 serial murders of intellectuals and political dissidents, two days after the lead suspect reportedly confessed to ordering the killings.

A number of secret police hitmen suspected of involvement will also be made to book, it was disclosed on Sunday.

Te judge in the case has decided to conduct all hearings behind closed doors for "security reasons" making victims' families boycott the trial sessions in protest.

(IRNA)