TEHRAN // Iran today freed a Syrian journalist working for Dubai television who was detained during anti-government protests two weeks ago, Tehran's chief prosecutor was quoted as saying.
"This Syrian journalist was freed from jail this morning," the Tehran general prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi told the semi-official Fars News Agency. The same official had said on Saturday that Iran planned to release the journalist.
Eight people were killed in clashes between security forces and supporters of opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi on Ashura, a day of ritual Shi'ite mourning that fell on December 27.
It was the worst violence since protests in the immediate aftermath of a disputed presidential election in June.
Opposition protesters say the vote was rigged in favour of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which the government denies.
The opposition website Rahesabz said on Wednesday that more than 180 people, including 17 journalists, 10 Mousavi aides and some members of the outlawed Baha'i faith, were arrested in the aftermath of the December 27 protests.
A European diplomat was held for 24 hours. Mr Dolatabadi today said the diplomat was Swedish.
"This diplomat at the Swedish embassy in Tehran was arrested by security forces during the unrest on Ashura, but he was released after his identity was verified," Mr Dolatabadi told Fars.
He said on Friday that five detainees whom Iran plans to try in connection with last month's anti-government protests were members of the People's Mujahideen Organisation of Iran (PMOI), an exile group opposed to Iran's Islamic system of government.
Separately, an opposition website today said about 30 "mourning mothers", with children who were killed or disappeared during the post-election unrest, were arrested in a Tehran park on Saturday and taken to a detention centre in the capital.
The mothers gather in Tehran's Laleh park every Saturday, the Kaleme website said. The report could not be independently verified.
* Reuters
Structural weaknesses facing Israel economy
1. Labour productivity is lower than the average of the developed economies, particularly in the non-tradable industries.
2. The low level of basic skills among workers and the high level of inequality between those with various skills.
3. Low employment rates, particularly among Arab women and Ultra-Othodox Jewish men.
4. A lack of basic knowledge required for integration into the labour force, due to the lack of core curriculum studies in schools for Ultra-Othodox Jews.
5. A need to upgrade and expand physical infrastructure, particularly mass transit infrastructure.
6. The poverty rate at more than double the OECD average.
7. Population growth of about 2 per cent per year, compared to 0.6 per cent OECD average posing challenge for fiscal policy and underpinning pressure on education, health care, welfare housing and physical infrastructure, which will increase in the coming years.
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One-off T20 International: UAE v Australia
When: Monday, October 22, 2pm start
Where: Abu Dhabi Cricket, Oval 1
Tickets: Admission is free
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Darcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Peter Siddle
Pakistanis at the ILT20
The new UAE league has been boosted this season by the arrival of five Pakistanis, who were not released to play last year.
Shaheen Afridi (Desert Vipers)
Set for at least four matches, having arrived from New Zealand where he captained Pakistan in a series loss.
Shadab Khan (Desert Vipers)
The leg-spin bowling allrounder missed the tour of New Zealand after injuring an ankle when stepping on a ball.
Azam Khan (Desert Vipers)
Powerhouse wicketkeeper played three games for Pakistan on tour in New Zealand. He was the first Pakistani recruited to the ILT20.
Mohammed Amir (Desert Vipers)
Has made himself unavailable for national duty, meaning he will be available for the entire ILT20 campaign.
Imad Wasim (Abu Dhabi Knight Riders)
The left-handed allrounder, 35, retired from international cricket in November and was subsequently recruited by the Knight Riders.