Call to boycott Oscars over Islam video

An Iranian official has called for his country to boycott the 2013 Oscars and not field a candidate for the foreign film category.

It comes in the wake of the anti-Islam video made in the United States that denigrates the Prophet Mohamed.

Javad Shamaghdari, head of the government-controlled cinema agency, said Iran should "avoid" the Hollywood film festival until the organisers denounce the film entitled Innocence of Muslims, which has prompted violent protests and outrage among Muslims around the world.

AP