assist
ed in the attack. In court, Sheikh Issa's defence, led by one of Dubai's most prominent lawyers, stated that the Sheikh was under the influence of prescription drugs. That meant he was unaware of his actions and
had no recollection of
them.
A parliamentary committee in Iran has made a rare official criticism of the treatment of opposition detainees held after last year's disputed presidential poll. In a report, it said three detainees died at a
notorious
prison because of their treatment. Here is our Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne.
The Iranian parliamentary report is heavily critical of the way opposition detainees were sent to the Kahrizak detention center in Tehran, despite a lack of space and facilities there. The report says that 147 of them were kept in one room with poor food, excessive heat and poor ventilation. It says that three of them died because of the bad conditions and as a result of physical attacks. The parliamentary committee blames a former Tehran prosecutor, who had a reputation as a hardliner, for insisting the detainees be sent there despite being warned about the conditions.
Pope Benedict has called for respect for migrants, saying that they have rights and are equally loved by God. He was speaking after violent clashes between African farm workers and local residents in Calabria, southern Italy. Some 70 people were injured in the disturbances.
BBC News.