Iran 'sends monkey into space'

Iran has successfully launched a live monkey into space, state news agency IRNA reported, lauding it as an advance in a missile and space programme that has alarmed the West and Israel.

There was no independent confirmation of the report and there have been no announcements by Western powers of any Iranian launch late last week.

The Fars news agency said the monkey was launched into space on a Kavoshgar rocket.

It added that the rocket reached a height of more than 120 kilometres and "returned its shipment intact."