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TEHRAN — A group of 17 Iranian political prisoners, including journalists and student activists, have been on hunger strike for a week demanding better treatment, opposition websites reported on Monday.

"So far five of the hunger strikers have been taken to hospital and the condition of the others is worsening," reported Kaleme.com, the website of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi.

The group including reformist journalists Bahman Ahmadi Amoui and Keyvan Samimi as well as leading student activists Abdollah Momeni and Majid Tavakoli, "went on hunger strike after being transferred to solitary confinement and in protest at insults and humiliation," the website said.

Another opposition website Rahesabz.net said the hunger strike was triggered by an argument between some prisoners and wardens over the treatment of their families who had come for a visit on July 26.