Iran bans pro-reform business daily

An Iranian media body banned on Monday the publication of a leading business daily, Sarmayeh, which is critical of the economic policies of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government. The official IRNA news agency said Iran's press supervisory body took the decision because of "repeated violations of the press law". It did not give further details. "Based on a decision by the press supervisory board ... the authorisation for the publication of Sarmayeh daily was annulled," IRNA said. Sarmayeh editor Saeed Laylaz, an outspoken government critic, was arrested shortly after Iran's disputed election in June. The opposition says the vote was rigged to secure Ahmadinejad's re-election.