TEHRAN "What I have published as an interview with Akbar Ganji is genuine and was checked by him before it went to the press," said Geneive Abdo who interviewed Ganji.

"Ganji was eager to be interviewed by us so that his views are covered by the Western media," said Abdo to the TEHRAN TIMES yesterday.

Abdo published an interview with Ganji in the **** Guardian **** and the **** Herald Tribune **** which was also picked up by Reuters, but later his brother Asghar Ganji said that his brother's statement was distorted.

"A relative of one of Ganji's cellmates got the questions from me and took them to Ganji," she said, adding," he sent us the answers and when we sent the translation of the answers to him, he okayed them."

"After the interview was published, his relatives said that it had been distorted by the **** Guardian****, the **** Herald Tribune **** and Reuters," Abdo said.

"We are sure about the authenticity of our report," she said, adding that a study of the original report would acknowledge its authenticity.

Meanwhile, IRNA published another interview which it claimed was Ganji's interview. Experts doubt the authenticity of IRNA's version.

It is said that Abdo sent her questions to Ganji through a relative of Ganji's wife. It is not clear why Abdo did not mention it in her interview with the TEHRAN TIMES.