This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6260301.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Iran demands release of citizens Iran demands release of citizens
(10 minutes later)
Iran has demanded the immediate release of five of its citizens held in a US military raid in northern Iraq, who it says are diplomats.Iran has demanded the immediate release of five of its citizens held in a US military raid in northern Iraq, who it says are diplomats.
The five men arrested on Thursday in Irbil are accused by the US military of having targeted Iraqi and US-led coalition forces. The US says the detainees arrested on Thursday in Irbil are linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards which they say trains and arms insurgents in Iraq.
But Iran's foreign ministry says they were "involved in consulate affairs".But Iran's foreign ministry says they were "involved in consulate affairs".
Iran also demanded compensation for damage to the Iranian liaison office where the men were seized.Iran also demanded compensation for damage to the Iranian liaison office where the men were seized.
The US military says the men are agents of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, a group whom the US says is seeking to destabilise Iraq by supplying weapons to insurgents.
The US said the Iranians did not have diplomatic papers.
'Incorrect claim''Incorrect claim'
"Their activities were legal and in the framework of the law," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said in response to the allegations."Their activities were legal and in the framework of the law," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said in response to the allegations.
"What the Americans claim is incorrect. They want to create a climate that justifies their illegal action," he said. He said the building the Americans attacked opened in 1992 and was officially registered as the Iranian consulate. The Iraqi authorities have said it was a liaison office in the process of being registered as a consulate.
But Iran is adamant the office and the staff inside should have had diplomatic protection and that America's action was illegal.
"What the Americans claim is incorrect. The Americans want to radicalise the atmosphere in Iraq to justify their occupation, but we will act wisely," he said.
Teheran has protested to the ambassadors of Iraq and Switzerland, which represents American interests in Iran.
The raid followed a warning by President George W Bush on Wednesday that the US would take a tough stance towards Iran and Syria, whom he accused of destabilising Iraq.The raid followed a warning by President George W Bush on Wednesday that the US would take a tough stance towards Iran and Syria, whom he accused of destabilising Iraq.
Tehran vehemently denies the charges.Tehran vehemently denies the charges.
The Revolutionary Guards unit, known locally as the Pasdaran, is a parallel military force with its own army, air force and navy.The Revolutionary Guards unit, known locally as the Pasdaran, is a parallel military force with its own army, air force and navy.
It was set up to enforce and defend the principles of the 1979 Islamic revolution and answers directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.It was set up to enforce and defend the principles of the 1979 Islamic revolution and answers directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.