Three Iranian women recorded a rare climb of the 7161 metres high Pumori Friday at 2.45 PM even as an avalanche killed five Spaniards on the treacherous peak this fall, the Ministry of Tourism said.

Leila Bahrami, 38, a mountain guide, Zehra Nazari, 30, and Farkhondeh Sadegh, 22, a designer, climbed the peak through the normal route. They were members of Iranian Women Sports Pumori Expedition 2001.

They were assisted to the top by three male sherpa guides and an Iranian male climber Jalal Cheshmehgmasabani, the Ministry of Tourism said. The 11 member expedition was led by Ms .Zarifeh Saransari Rahimzadeh, 39, head of the Mountain Climbing Association of Tehran.

An Iranian expedition climbed the 8848 metres high Mount Everest several years ago in another rare Iranian climb in the Nepal Himalaya.

Five climbers of a six member Japanese expedition climbed the 7132 metres high Api on October 6 and 8, the Ministry of Tourism said quoting delayed reports from base camp Thursday.

Expedition leader Ayumi Nozawai, 27, and Hirotaka Imamura, 32, climbed the peak in the first group; Tomoyuki Furuya, 29, Horoshi Iwazaki, 41, and Fumihiko Oeiwara, 24, stepped on the summit in the second group.

Nine Americans and three Nepali guides climbed the 6812 metres high Ama Dablamin in three groups on Friday, Sunday and Tuesday, the Ministry of Tourism said.

The Americans were members of two expeditions climbing the normal route. Ama Dablam is the most popular peak in the Nepal Himalaya amongst foreign climbers. nepalnews.com br Oct.25