Iran frees 140 protestors

TEHRAN: Iranian authorities freed 140 protestors on Tuesday who were detained in a notorious Tehran prison in the aftermath of last month's disputed presidential election, a lawmaker said.

The release came after members of a panel set up to oversee the situation of the detainees visited Evin prison, MP Kazem Jalali who is a member of the panel said in a statement to the ISNA news agency.

"We had an intensive meeting with Tehran prosecutor (Saeed Mortazavi) and 140 detainees of the recent events were freed," Jalali said.

Around 200 people remain in detention, he said, including 50 "politicians, members of anti-revolutionary groups and foreigners," he said.

"Based on what Tehran prosecutor told us the prosecution considers that some of them masterminded the riots," he said, adding that the remaining 150 were directly involved in violence.

"They are the ones, who according to the Tehran prosecutor, had weapons and vandalised public property. We hope their indictment will be issued soon so they can be tried."