US State Department speaks to Twitter over Iran

The US State Department said on Tuesday it had contacted the social networking service Twitter to urge it to delay a planned upgrade that would have cut daytime service to Iranians who are disputing their election. Twitter and Facebook have been used as a tool by many young people to coordinate protests over the election's outcome. Twitter Inc said in a blog post it delayed a planned upgrade because of its role as an "important communication tool in Iran." The hour-long maintenance was put back to 5 p.m. EDT/2100 GMT, which corresponds to 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday in Iran. The upgrade originally had been planned for Monday night in the United States, which would have cut daytime service in Iran on Tuesday.