UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said he is unhappy with reports about the harassment of Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi.

Ebadi is an Iranian lawyer who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2003 for her legal work on behalf of Iranian political activists and religious and ethnic minorities.

Since her recognition by the Nobel committee, she has been threatened by radical groups and some government political figures.

Mr Ban has now called on Iranian authorities to take immediate measures to prevent any further harassment and to ensure Ms Ebadi's safety.

On January 1st, Iranian protesters spray-painted slogans on Ebadi's home and accused her of supporting Israel's Gaza offensive.

She was threatened with death by members of the crowd.