Iran halts Kazemitrial

IRAN’S hardline judiciary, accused of a cover-up in the death of Iranian-Canadian photographer Zahra Kazemi, drew fresh indignation by barring diplomats and journalists from the trial of her alleged killer and then abruptly halting the case.

Canadian ambassador Philip Mackinnon, Dutch ambassador Hein De Vries and senior French and British diplomats were told to stay out of the second round of hearings into the case.

The foreign press were also barred from the court, and Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi and her legal team - who are representing Kazemi’s enraged family - stormed out after the judge rejected their call for more witnesses.