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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| US forces storm Iranian consulate | US forces storm Iranian consulate |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| US forces have stormed an Iranian consulate in the northern Iraqi town of Irbil and seized six members of staff. | 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 US military would only confirm the detention of six people around Irbil. |
| Tehran said the attack violated all international conventions. It has summoned ambassadors from Switzerland, representing US interests, and Iraq. | |
| A spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry described the raid as an attempt to sabotage Tehran's relations with Iraq. One Iranian MP said it showed America's cruelty and meanness. | |
| 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. | Tehran counters that US military involvement in the Middle East endangers the whole region. |
| Pressure | Pressure |
| 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. | |
| Dozens of casualties resulted from a truck bombing in Samarra | |
| 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. | |
| 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. |
| Other violence was reported in Mosul, where gunmen killed a professor driving home from work, and Samarra where a suicide truck bomber attacked the mayor's house, killing three people and wounding 33, including the mayor. | Other violence was reported in Mosul, where gunmen killed a professor driving home from work, and Samarra where a suicide truck bomber attacked the mayor's house, killing three people and wounding 33, including the mayor. |