TEHRAN In a press release faxed to IRNA Sunday afternoon, the Iranian Information Ministry said that since the turn of the month, it had foiled over 25 terrorist schemes by the Iraqi-based terrorist group of Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) in Tehran and several other cities bordering their haven Iraq.

It said that a number of MKO's had been killed and others arrested in Tehran that totalled 10 since January 8 and that three mortar-launchers, 42 mortar shells, 15 grenades, five assault rifles and over 15 id cards forged by the MKO's had been seized.

The press release also said that over the same period four mortar-launchers, 45 mortar shells, 32 grenades, four handguns, two cell phones and over 20 forged ID cards were seized from MKO members who intended to jump the border to Iran across the southwestern Province of Khuzestan which borders Iraq.

Another team was also arrested in the western Province of Kermanshah, according to the statement.

MKO aims to topple the Islamic government by armed confrontation, terrorist operations, militarism and violent and subversive acts.

The outlawed organization has its headquarters in neighboring Iraq, with members scattered also in Europe and Northern America occasionally with some degree of official support from their host countries. Internationally, however, it has been labelled as a terrorist group.

Earlier this month, Iran's Information Minister Ali Younessi said that the MKO's were gradually losing their vigor and getting closer to their dying day.

(IRNA)