In Iran, a member of a parliamentary investigation committee says some reformers jailed in the aftermath of the disputed presidential elections were raped in prison.

A committee member, quoted anonymously by an Iranian Parliamentary News website, said it has been proven that some detainees were raped with rubber batons and soda bottles. At least four people say they are prepared to testify if their security can be guaranteed.
 

There were mass protests in Iran after the results of the 12 June presidential elections were released. Reformists and opposition candidates claim that the vote was rigged. Hundreds of protesters were arrested and at least 30 were killed. Dozens of opposition leaders were arrested as well. The disputed elections led to the most serious internal crisis in Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Earlier today, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that the protest organisers were not working in collusion with foreign powers. Iranian leaders had previously accused Western powers, particularly the US and Great Britain, of being behind the protests. State-run television quoted the supreme leader as saying that the accusation had not been proven.