Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Ebadi calls for new polls

Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Ebadi calls for new pollsPrague - Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi has called for a new presidential election in Iran to be monitored by international observers, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

"I believe that a recount of the votes under the current conditions won't solve anything," Ebadi told the Prague-based, US- financed broadcaster in a telephone interview published on the station's website late Tuesday.

"A new election must be held and this time it should be under the monitoring of international organizations," she said.

Violent street protests and election fraud allegations have rocked Iran since authorities announced that incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad won re-election in the polls last week.

Ebadi, who spoke to the station from "a location outside Iran," also urged the Iranian authorities to release arrested protesters "without any conditions."

Ebadi, a human rights lawyer and activist, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003.(dpa)