Iran students ordered released

By Miranda Eeles
BBC correspondent, Tehran

Tehran's prosecutor general has ordered the release of nine students who were arrested during anti-regime demonstrations in June and July.

The demonstrations attracted considerable support

Reports say the decision to free them came after the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei on Tuesday asked the judiciary to show leniency to those detained.

About 4,000 people were arrested all over the country before and after the protests.

Although many of those have since been released, there are still scores of students behind bars.

Most of the students on the list are members of the student body Takhim-e Wahdat.

They include Abdullah Momeni, a student leader and also Mehdi Shirzad, the son of a reformist member of parliament.

Tension-easing exercise

The state news agency Irna said Prosecutor General Said Mortazavi had ordered their immediate release after receiving an order from Ayatollah Khamenei.

Mr Khamenei had received a letter from two of his university representatives asking him to show forgiveness to those students who had got caught up in the unrest by mistake.

Those who have disassociated themselves from the troublemakers, the letter said, or whose demands were solely to do with the universities should benefit from Islamic clemency.

The announcement by the prosecutor general's office comes after growing calls by student bodies, reformist MPs and human rights groups to release the students.

Commentators have said it shows the clerical authorities are keen to ease tensions following the recent unrest and before the universities start the next academic year.

In the past few years, students frustrated at the slow pace of change have been the most vocal against the regime, but they have paid the price, with many ending up in prison with heavy sentences.