Iran Fraud Accusations

The conservative head of the judiciary in Iran, Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, has told the Mayor of Tehran to appear before a court to explain a number of recent charges of corruption involving his municipality.

Mr Yazdi said that the matter had assumed national importance and answers were needed.

Four district mayors and several other senior officials in Tehran have been arrested and two of the mayors have been given prison sentences on corruption charges.

The mayor, Gholamhossein Karbaschi, a moderate politician and a staunch supporter of President Mohammad Khatami, has said the arrests are politically motivated.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service