UNITED NATIONS, Oct 21 (AFP) - "Significant violations" of human rights continue in Iran despite some progress, a UN report published Wednesday said.

Maurice Copithorne, special representative for the UN Commission on Human Rights, said in a report that leaders of the Islamic Republic had shown themselves willing to move towards a "more tolerant and more peaceful condition".

But "there is still a long way to go to reach a tolerant society," he said.

In particular, Copithorne, who was unable to visit Iran to document the evidence for himself, criticised the treatment of women, religious minorities such as Baha'i followers, and the slow pace of legal reforms.

Between January and August 1998 the status of women in the Republic had not improved significantly he reported.

According to foreign wire services, young women continued to be harassed on occasion by Tehran police for failing to conform to the strict Islamic dress code.

A press report in February also revealed that stricter dress codes had been introduced along with penalties of three months to one year in prison, fines and up to 74 lashes.

Copithorne pointed out that he had "repeatedly pointed out the grossly offensive manner in which the dress code is on occasion enforced" referring to "whippings and worse."

With regard to legal reforms, the report criticised a law adopted by the Majlis -- the Iranian Parliament -- in May enforcing compulsory segregation of health care services for men and women.

The law came under attack for compromising the care of women and girls because of the lack of trained female physicians and professionals to meet their needs.

The president of Iran's Society of Surgeons resigned over the issue and 1,200 doctors are reported to have signed an open statement of protest, the report said.

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He said that he had witness testimony of "extreme physical abuse" at detention centres in Tehran… And he cited Iranian newspaper reports that 10 or 12 suits had been filed against the security forces for torture and physical and psychological violence.

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With regard to the British novelist Salman Rushdie, who was the subject of a fatwa condemning him to death for blasphemy…The Iranian government pledged not to execute the fatwa in September but several religious authorities have said that the decree is "irrevocable" and have even raised the reward for carrying it.