1.   But shortly after leaving the note, the writer is accidentally killed in a traffic accident.

2.   Four writers have been killed in the last year and a half.

3.   But state-run Tehran radio, responding to a European Union appeal on behalf of Rushdie, said Iran would not actively seek to kill the writer.

4.   However, state-run Tehran radio said Iran would not actively seek to kill the writer.

5.   Previous conferences concluded rabies killed the writer Edgar Allan Poe and that the Roman emperor Claudius died from eating poisonous mushrooms.

6.   Some were written to be read only if the writer was killed.

7.   He reiterated assurances that Iran had no plans to send commandos to kill the writer.