Canada pulled out of a trade conference with the Iranian Government after discussions surrounding the alleged torture and death of photo-journalist Zahra Kazemi fell through. The move comes after accusations by Canada that a Canadian journalist, Kazemi, was savagedly attacked in Iran. The alegation was denied by Iran's Foreign Affairs Minister Kamal Kharazi on Tuesday. Canadian ministers have since responded by calling for an international forensic investigation into the Kazemi case.

"We will continue to put pressure on Iran," Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew said yesterday. "This is something on which we will not give up. We know that in Iran it is lies, it is coverups that are being presented to us."

The allegations stem from Iranian born Doctor Shahram Azam, who fled to Canada and revealed last week how he examined Kazemi in June 2003, following her arrest in Iran. Azam told reporters that Kazemi was brought to him by Iranian authorities with severe injuries that were said to have been inflicted whilst in custody. Khzarazi dismissed Azam's claims, adding that he has never worked at the hospital in which he claims he treated Kazemi.

The Iranian government - which carried out an inquiry into the journalist's death - said the allegations were "baseless and completely false". It said no-one named Shahram Azam had ever worked in the hospital.

The Liberal government has been hammered for failing to recall its ambassador to Iran even after allegations of unspeakable torture were made last week by Kazemi's exiled Iranian doctor, Shahram Azam.