Iranian opposition plea to president

An Iranian opposition party, the Iran Freedom Movement, has appealed to President Khatami to speak out against what it described as the current oppressive era in Iran.

In a statement carried by Iranian newspapers, it urged senior reformists to protest against what it said were increasingly frequent breaches of the law by the conservative judiciary.

A Revolutionary Court last month banned the group and imposed prison sentences on more than 30 of its members for attempting to overthrow the government.

The Freedom Movement which was founded by Iran's first prime minister says the charges are baseless and says it will appeal.

Reformist MPs have also condemned the sentences, warning such action by the courts was pushing the country towards an abyss.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service