A Mexican environmentalist who's in jail has been awarded the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize.

The environmental activist, Rodolfo Montiel, was the leader of a group of ecologists who fought to protect forests in the western state of Guerrero.

The authorities accuse Mr Montiel of drug trafficking and links to left-wing guerrillas, but human rights groups say he was arrested because of his environmental work and tortured into confessing to crimes he didn't commit.

The prize which Mr Montiel received worth $125,000 is awarded annually to six groups around the world by the San Francisco-based Goldman Foundation. The foundation is awaiting permission to present the award to Mr Montiel in prison.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service