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| Nimr al-Nimr execution: Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran 'attacked by protesters' | Nimr al-Nimr execution: Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran 'attacked by protesters' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Reports have emerged of crowds breaking into and setting fires at the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran. | Reports have emerged of crowds breaking into and setting fires at the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran. |
| The Iranian police have dispersed the protesters from inside the embassy and the Iranian Foreign Ministry has appealed for calm, and to respect diplomatic premises, according to reports. | The Iranian police have dispersed the protesters from inside the embassy and the Iranian Foreign Ministry has appealed for calm, and to respect diplomatic premises, according to reports. |
| Photos and video posted to social media, which have not been verified, show numerous protesters within the embassy compound, and fires lighting up the building. One video appears to show a Molotov cocktail being thrown at the building. | Photos and video posted to social media, which have not been verified, show numerous protesters within the embassy compound, and fires lighting up the building. One video appears to show a Molotov cocktail being thrown at the building. |
| An Iranian journalist seemingly at the scene, Sobhan Hassanvand, posted images of masked protesters clutching a Saudi flag which appears to have been torn down, and video of protesters trashing rooms. | An Iranian journalist seemingly at the scene, Sobhan Hassanvand, posted images of masked protesters clutching a Saudi flag which appears to have been torn down, and video of protesters trashing rooms. |
| The protests follow the Saudi execution of a highly regarded Shia Muslim cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr on Saturday. | |
| The Iranian government itself has been highly critical of Nimr’s execution. “The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and takfiri [ideology],” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeman Hossein Jaber Ansari stated, “but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution... the Saudi government will pay a high price for following these policies.” | The Iranian government itself has been highly critical of Nimr’s execution. “The Saudi government supports terrorist movements and takfiri [ideology],” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeman Hossein Jaber Ansari stated, “but confronts domestic critics with oppression and execution... the Saudi government will pay a high price for following these policies.” |
| There have also been protests reported in the Saudi Arabia’s Eater Province, where local police were reportedly withdrawn and replaced by armoured units to maintain order. | There have also been protests reported in the Saudi Arabia’s Eater Province, where local police were reportedly withdrawn and replaced by armoured units to maintain order. |
| There were small protests outside the Saudi embassy in London. Hilary Benn, shadow foreign secretary, tweeted: “Saudi Arabia profoundly wrong to execute Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Opposed to the death penalty and Amnesty had serious concerns about his trial.” | There were small protests outside the Saudi embassy in London. Hilary Benn, shadow foreign secretary, tweeted: “Saudi Arabia profoundly wrong to execute Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Opposed to the death penalty and Amnesty had serious concerns about his trial.” |
| Protests were also reported in Yemen, Pakistan and Kahmir. | |
| In Bahrain, which has a Shia majority and has long complained of persecution from Sunni Saudi Arabia, protests against the execution turned violent and saw police clash with protesters. | In Bahrain, which has a Shia majority and has long complained of persecution from Sunni Saudi Arabia, protests against the execution turned violent and saw police clash with protesters. |
| In Lebanon, Shia militant group Hezbollah denounced the execution as an “assassination” and the Lebanese Shia council called it a “grave mistake”. | In Lebanon, Shia militant group Hezbollah denounced the execution as an “assassination” and the Lebanese Shia council called it a “grave mistake”. |
| In Iraq, there has been widespread condemnation. Moqtada al-Sadr, a powerful Shia leader who fought against the American occupation, called for "angry demonstrations” in protest. | |
| Additional reporting by Reuters | Additional reporting by Reuters |