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Iran 'arrests UK embassy staff' Iran 'arrests UK embassy staff'
(about 1 hour later)
Iran has detained eight local staff at the British embassy in Tehran on accusations of having a role in post-election riots, local reports said.Iran has detained eight local staff at the British embassy in Tehran on accusations of having a role in post-election riots, local reports said.
The embassy has not yet confirmed the report from the semi-official Fars news agency, which did not name its source.The embassy has not yet confirmed the report from the semi-official Fars news agency, which did not name its source.
Relations between the countries are strained after Tehran accused the UK of inflaming unrest, which London denies.Relations between the countries are strained after Tehran accused the UK of inflaming unrest, which London denies.
Some 17 people are thought to have died in street protests after the disputed 12 June presidential poll.Some 17 people are thought to have died in street protests after the disputed 12 June presidential poll.
Tehran has expelled two British diplomats in the past week, and the UK has responded with a similar measure.Tehran has expelled two British diplomats in the past week, and the UK has responded with a similar measure.
There is no independent confirmation of the latest arrests.There is no independent confirmation of the latest arrests.
"Eight local employees at the British embassy who had a considerable role in recent unrest were taken into custody," Fars said, without giving a source."Eight local employees at the British embassy who had a considerable role in recent unrest were taken into custody," Fars said, without giving a source.
The UK Foreign Office said in London: "We have in the last few days received a number of, sometimes confused, reports that British nationals or others with British connections have been detained. We continue to raise them with the Iranian authorities."The UK Foreign Office said in London: "We have in the last few days received a number of, sometimes confused, reports that British nationals or others with British connections have been detained. We continue to raise them with the Iranian authorities."
Poll verdict
Meanwhile, Iran's powerful Guardian Council was due to give its verdict on the result of the disputed presidential election, which handed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a decisive victory.
IRAN UNREST 12 June Presidential election saw incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected with 63% of voteMain challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi called for result to be annulled for electoral fraudStreet protests saw at least 17 people killed and foreign media restricted Q&A: Election aftermath How Iran is ruled Who's who in Iran Iran: Send your questions
But the BBC's Jeremy Bowen in Tehran says there is much politicking taking place behind the scenes, and that the five-day deadline for the Guardian Council to return its verdict may be extended.
Our correspondent says there is an attempt to form a committee - including the disappointed presidential candidates - to oversee the recount of 10% of the votes, a move which they are resisting.
Another parliamentary committee is holding discussions with the grand ayatollahs in an attempt from pro-Ahmadinejad forces to put on a show of unity, he adds.
But opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi has not backed away from his claim that the election result was fraudulent, and has refused to support the Guardian Council's plan for a partial recount.
Mr Mousavi has been calling for a full re-run of the vote, but said on Saturday that he would accept a review by an independent body.
However the Guardian Council has already defended President Ahmadinejad's re-election, saying on Friday that the presidential poll was the "healthiest" since the Iranian revolution in 1979.