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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| US forces storm Iranian consulate | US forces storm Iranian consulate |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US forces have stormed an Iranian consulate in the northern Iraqi town of Irbil and seized six members of staff. | |
| The troops raided the building at about 0300 (0001GMT), taking away computers and papers, according to Kurdish media and senior local officials. | The troops raided the building at about 0300 (0001GMT), taking away computers and papers, according to Kurdish media and senior local officials. |
| The US military would only confirm the detention of six people around Irbil. | |
| The raid comes amid high Iran-US tension. The US accuses Iran of helping to fuel violence in Iraq and seeking nuclear arms. Iran denies both charges. | |
| Tehran counters that US military involvement in the Middle East endangers the whole region. | |
| A local TV station said Kurdish security forces had taken over the building after the Americans had left. | A local TV station said Kurdish security forces had taken over the building after the Americans had left. |
| Irbil lies in Iraq's Kurdish-controlled north, about 350km (220 miles) from the capital Baghdad. | |
| Reports say the Iranian consulate there was set up last year under an agreement with the Kurdish regional government to facilitate cross-border visits. | Reports say the Iranian consulate there was set up last year under an agreement with the Kurdish regional government to facilitate cross-border visits. |
| Pressure | Pressure |
| Iranian media said the country's embassy in Baghdad had sent a letter of protest about the raid to the Iraqi foreign ministry. | Iranian media said the country's embassy in Baghdad had sent a letter of protest about the raid to the Iraqi foreign ministry. |
| One Iranian news agency with a correspondent in Irbil says five US helicopters were used to land troops on the roof of the Iranian consulate. | One Iranian news agency with a correspondent in Irbil says five US helicopters were used to land troops on the roof of the Iranian consulate. |
| It reports that a number of vehicles cordoned off the streets around the building, while US soldiers warned the occupants in three different languages that they should surrender or be killed. | It reports that a number of vehicles cordoned off the streets around the building, while US soldiers warned the occupants in three different languages that they should surrender or be killed. |
| In December, US troops detained a number of Iranians in Iraq, including two with diplomatic immunity who were later released. | In December, US troops detained a number of Iranians in Iraq, including two with diplomatic immunity who were later released. |
| Thursday's raid came as US President George W Bush unveiled his new strategy in Iraq, which included increasing troop numbers and a commitment to stop Iranian support for "our enemies in Iraq". | Thursday's raid came as US President George W Bush unveiled his new strategy in Iraq, which included increasing troop numbers and a commitment to stop Iranian support for "our enemies in Iraq". |
| BBC Diplomatic Correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the raid could signal a ratcheting-up of pressure on the Iranians, in line with the rhetorical thrust of his speech. | BBC Diplomatic Correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the raid could signal a ratcheting-up of pressure on the Iranians, in line with the rhetorical thrust of his speech. |
| Meanwhile in the Iraqi capital, the five off-duty policemen were killed in an ambush in the western al-Khadra neighbourhood, hospital officials said | Meanwhile in the Iraqi capital, the five off-duty policemen were killed in an ambush in the western al-Khadra neighbourhood, hospital officials said |
| Security sources said another man was killed wounded in an attack on a money changer in downtown Baghdad. | Security sources said another man was killed wounded in an attack on a money changer in downtown Baghdad. |
| In the restive Anbar province, the US military said that one of its troops was killed on Tuesday by a roadside bombing. | In the restive Anbar province, the US military said that one of its troops was killed on Tuesday by a roadside bombing. |