Woman sentenced to stoning 'confesses' on Iranian TV

Iranian TV has aired what it says is a confession by a woman under threat of being stoned to death. In the broadcast, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani admits complicity in murder and denounces her lawyer, who has fled Iran.

Ms Ashtiani's case prompted international outrage when she was initially sentenced to death by stoning for adultery. Her death sentence was then temporarily halted by the authorities.

According to BBC New the confession was aired on one of the main channels of state TV.

There was no mention of the stoning sentence and the focus was moved away from the allegation of adultery, to a claim that she was complicit in a plot to murder her husband.

In the televised confession she admitted her part in the murder, despite earlier telling western media that she had been acquitted of the charge.

Ms Ashtiani also criticised her lawyer, Mohammed Mostafaie, for interfering in her case.

Mr Mostafaie has now sought asylum in Norway.

Another of Ms Ashtiani's lawyers has said that she was tortured for two days in prison to force her to make her confession.

Human rights activists fear that she is now in danger of imminent execution.