Kazemi trial to resume in July

Kazemi died from head injuries sustained during her interrogation

The trial of an Iranian intelligence agent charged with beating to death a Canadian journalist will resume in July after a long delay, officials say.

Iranian-born Zahra Kazemi died in July 2003 after she was arrested for taking pictures outside a Tehran prison.

Mohammad Reza Aghdam Ahmadi pleaded not guilty at the trial's first and only session last October.

The hearing was delayed to allow lawyers representing the Kazemi family to research the case.

Ms Kazemi, 54, was detained on 23 June 2003 for taking pictures of Tehran's Evin prison.

She died in hospital in Tehran on 10 July after falling into a coma having received head injuries during more than three days of interrogation.

The case has sparked a fierce debate between the hardline judiciary and the reformist intelligence ministry.

Both sides have accused one another of staging a cover-up to divert responsibility for Ms Kazemi's death.

Iran's reformist President Mohammad Khatami publicly questioned Iran's judges over their handling of the investigation.