Iran frees leading reformer on $700,000 bail

A leading Iranian reformer, who was reportedly jailed for six years, has been released on bail of 7 billion rials (about $700,000), the official IRNA news agency reported on Sunday.

IRNA quoted Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi as saying Mohammad Ali Abtahi, who was vice president during the 1997-2005 presidency of Mohammad Khatami, was "temporarily" released earlier on Sunday. Under Iranian law, people sentenced to jail can be released on bail while they are appealing. (Reuters)