Iran accused of using torture to get confessions

IRAN’S opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi accused the authorities yesterday of using “medieval torture” to extract confessions from protesters on trial over the wave of post-election unrest.

Former president Mohammad Khatami also said Saturday’s mass trial of 100 protesters and prominent reformists was against the constitution, putting him at loggerheads with hardliners who openly accused him and Mousavi of “treason”.

Another 10 people were brought before a revolutionary court yesterday on charges relating to the massive street protests that erupted after hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s bitterly disputed election victory in June.