MADRID (DPA) - The Spanish government has asked Iran to backtrack on its decision to expel the correspondent of the Spanish newspaper El Pais, the daily said Monday in its internet edition.

Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos had called the Iranian ambassador to Spain and intended to call his Iranian counterpart, while other diplomats were also initiating contacts with Tehran, according to the daily.
Tehran cancelled Angeles Espinosa's residence permit and ordered her to leave the country within two weeks, according to El Pais.
Espinosa believes Tehran expelled her mainly over an interview she did with Ahmad Montazeri, son of a late ayatollah who had been critical of the government. The Spanish journalist was detained briefly in July, after doing the interview.