Tehran, Oct 11: After some initial confusion as to how it should respond to the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize win of a local human rights campaigner, Iran's reformist government finally gave an official but cautious welcome to the accolade - although their rival conservatives could barley conceal their disdain. Hours after the award was announced in Oslo and late into Friday evening in Tehran, official spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh said the government hoped the Nobel laureate's views "will be taken into consideration both inside and outside the borders of Iran." "In the name of the government of the Islamic Republic, I welcome the success of Mrs Ebadi," he told reporters. "This is an honour for the community of Iranian women and demonstrates that Iranian Muslim women have found in their country a good place for their activities," he said. Earlier in the day he had said the government was "happy" with the award, but then - amid wider official silence over the award - retracted his statement.

Vice President Ali Abtahi, a more outspoken member of the government, told mediapersons "the fact that a lawyer has won this prize gives us hope that the judicial system will change its methods."

Bureau Report