The Iranian Foreign Ministry has condemned a UN General Assembly vote accusing Iran of violating human rights.

A foreign ministry spokesman, Hamid Reza Asefi, said the resolution had been a politically-motivated act and was contrary to the prevailing realities in Iranian society.

Mr Asefi was referring to a resolution passed last month which said Iran was continuing a pattern of persecution against the minority Baha'i faith.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service