Britain backs Iran anti-drugs fight

A senior British minister visiting Iran has given strong backing to the country's efforts to combat drugs trafficking.

Mo Mowlam -- who's the highest-level British official to visit the country since the Islamic Revolution in 1979 -- told a seminar in the capital, Tehran, that Iran was doing what she called a magnificent job in interrupting drug smuggling to Europe.

Iran lies on one of the main transit routes used by traffickers.

Mrs Mowlam told the BBC she had also raised human rights issues in her talks with Iranian leaders.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service