Tehran - ­ The authorities in Iran have denied arresting 70 academics following their meeting with opposition leader Mir-Hossein Moussavi, Fars news agency reported.

Moussavis website said that the 70 scholars, all members of the Islamic Associations of their universities, were arrested after Wednesdays meeting with Moussavi and taken to an unknown destination.

Fars quoted an informed official as saying that no academic has been arrested, but that "some officials of the prosecutor-general's office had some talks with the academics after the meeting."

The official added that such false information just encouraged foreign media to make renewed misuse and continue spreading lies about Irans internal situation."(dpa)