Iran bans newspaper linked to rival of President Ahmadinejad

Iran's official news agency says authorities have banned the evening edition of a newspaper owned by Tehran's municipality, whose boss is considered a chief rival to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in next year's presidential election. The IRNA report quotes authorities as saying the Hamshahri daily's evening edition was banned because of incorrect reporting that they said was aimed at disrupting the country's economy. The paper is owned by Tehran's municipality. Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf is a conservative political rival to Ahmadinejad. Under the control of hard-liners, Iran's judiciary has shut more than 100 pro-reform newspapers and jailed dozens of editors and writers on vague charges of insulting authorities... [read full story]