TEHRAN The Persian daily ********* Abrar ********** wrote on Wednesday that Mohsen Fallahian, the son of former information minister Ali Fallahian, was arrested here Tuesday for shooting to death a security police force.

It said Mohsen Fallahian, 24, shot and injured one of the two plainclothes security forces who accosted him on a Tehran street at 01:30 local time. A scuffle ensued and Mohsen shot and injured lieutenant Khosrow Mirbeigi, 22, it said, adding that the injured police agent succumbed to his injuries after he was transferred to a Tehran hospital.

According to the paper, Fallahian fled the scene of the murder but later was arrested by the police.

During police questioning, Fallahian claimed he opened fire in self-defense, thinking the two armed men were intending to assassinate him, the paper said.

Other newspapers carried contradictory stories on the incident.

The Persian daily **** Aftab-e Yazd **** said that Ali Fallahian's office, in a faxed statement, had said that the shooting occurred after five people attacked Mohsen who was checking the neighboring streets ahead of his father leaving his office.

The daily **** Tose'e **** said that Fallahian's office had denied any death or injuries resulting from the incident, saying the scuffle involved his son and "a group of rascals."

Ali Fallahian has announced his intention to participate in the June 8 presidential elections.