Report: Iran halts hanging of Kurdish student

A defense lawyer in Iran says authorities have halted the hanging of a Kurdish student, Habibollah Latifi, who was sentenced to death for backing a rebel group. The lawyer was quoted by Iran's ISNA news agency Sunday as saying officials temporarily blocked the execution shortly before it was scheduled.

The lawyer, Nemat Ahmadi, had called for a full investigation of the case. Amnesty International and other rights groups also have protested against the execution. Latifi was sentenced in 2008 for supporting the Party for Free Life in Kurdistan, or PEJAK, which says it is fighting for greater rights for the Kurdish minority in Iran. Iranian authorities blame the group for attacks and clashes. Latifi claims he never took part in violence (AP)