Iran president denies Facebook block

TEHRAN, May 25 (UPI) -- Iran's president Monday denied he was behind a shutdown of Facebook in the run-up to the country's June 12 presidential election.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he believed in "maximum freedom of expression" and suggested a government inquiry into the controversy, CNN reported.

Facebook access in Iran was reportedly blocked after reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi launched a site that quickly signed up more than 5,000 supporters.

CNN said the disruption lasted only a few hours and was blamed by some Iranian media outlets on Iranian intelligence agencies.

Facebook issued a statement saying it was investigating the incident, but also criticized limitations on free expression on the Internet.