Iranian TV has aired what it says is a confession by a woman under threat of being stoned to death.
In the broadcast, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani admits to murder and denounces her lawyer, who fled the country after authorities tried to arrest him.
Ms Ashtiani's case prompted international outrage when she was initially sentenced to death by stoning for adultery.
Her death sentence was then temporarily halted by the authorities.
With the broadcast, the Iranian authorities have confronted head-on the enormous embarrassment they clearly feel over this case.
The confession was aired on one of the main channels of state TV.
There was no mention of the stoning sentence and the focus was moved away from the allegation of adultery, to a claim that she was complicit in a plot to murder her husband.
In the televised confession she admitted her part in the murder, despite earlier telling western media that she had been acquitted of the charge.
Ms Ashtiani also criticised her lawyer, Mohammed Mostafaie, for interfering in her case.
Mr Mostafaie has now sought asylum in Norway.
Another of Ms Ashtiani's lawyers has said that she was tortured for two days in prison to force her to make her confession.
Human rights activists fear that she is now in danger of imminent execution.
Jon Leyne @'BBC'
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