Iran denies confiscating Ebadi8217;s Nobel prize

8220;We are surprised by Norwegian officials taking a biased position with disregard to laws respected by all,8221; the spokesman said in a statement carried by the state news agency.

8220;We do not understand why Norwegian officials 8230; are seeking to justify people8217;s negligence and refusal to pay tax on assets,and are casting doubt on countries8217; legal mechanisms.

8220;We protest at such attitudes,8221; he said. Norway had said on Thursday that Iran had confiscated Ebadi8217;s Nobel and diploma from a bank box and that it had summoned Iran8217;s envoy to Oslo in protest.

Two of Ebadi8217;s colleagues in Tehran confirmed the seizure to AFP and said that Ebadi8217;s bank account where the prize money was deposited was also blocked.