Iranian deputy minister appealling conviction

The Iranian deputy interior minister, Mostafa Tajzadeh, has appealed against his conviction earlier this month for vote-rigging in last year's parliamentary election.

Mr Tajzadeh, who was stripped of all public office and sentenced to a one-year prison sentence, had earlier said that he would not lodge an appeal, because his conviction was politically motivated.

He said he had changed his mind following a request from the interior minister. Mr Tajzedeh is a close ally of President Mohammad Khatami, and was due to oversee the presidential election in June.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service