Human rights groups have protested to the Iran over a longstanding travel ban on a journalist and activist which has prevented him from receiving the Martin Ennals Award in person.

The Iranian authorities must immediately release dozens of people arrested last week during a prayer service in support of activists detained following protests after June’s presidential election, Amnesty International has said.

The US President, Barack Obama, has abandoned controversial plans to site a missile system in Poland and the Czech Republic. The decision is likely to ease tensions in the USA’s relations with Russia.

Eight people are reported to have been killed and up to 400 injured after Iraqi forces attacked unarmed Iranian residents of Camp Ashraf, north of Baghdad, this week.