Updated on Wednesday, June 20, 2007, 00:00 IST

London, June 19: Protesting against Britain's decision to Knight Salman Rushdie, an Iranian Group on Tuesday announced an 80,000 pound bounty on his head prompting the authorities to review the security of the controversial India-born author.

The Scotland Yard is reviewing security around Rushdie, who turned 60 today, and is all set to get round the clock police protection.

The bounty was offered by the Tehran-based hardliners 'the organisation to commemorate the martyrs of the Muslim world', which said it would pay an 80,000 pounds reward for anyone "who was able to execute the apostate Salman Rushdie".

Rushdie spent a decade under the threat of an Islamist death sentence after his book the satanic verses was deemed blasphemous over its irreverent depiction of the prophet.

Bureau Report