Iran unblocks Facebook

Iran has restored access to Facebook after blocking it reportedly to prevent supporters of a moderate in the presidential race from using it for his campaign, the Ilna news agency said on Tuesday. "A few minutes ago Facebook was unblocked," said Ilna, which is considered close to reformist candidates standing in the June 12 election. The agency said the internet social networking site had been blocked after a decision by "by a committee of representatives from the ministry of interior, intelligence, judiciary, parliament and some other ministries."

On May 23, it said access was blocked because "supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi were using Facebook to better disseminate the candidate's positions." Mr Mousavi, a moderate, is emerging as the main rival to the conservative president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who is seeking a second term in office in next month's poll. The other two officially approved candidates in the election are former speaker of parliament Mehdi Karroubi and former Revolutionary Guards head Mohsen Rezai.

*AFP