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UK fury as staff arrested in Iran UK fury as staff arrested in Iran
(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. The UK has demanded the immediate release of Iranian staff at its Tehran embassy who were arrested on Saturday.
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband demanded their release, saying the arrests were "quite unacceptable". Iranian media earlier reported that eight local staff at the mission had been detained for their "considerable role" in post-election riots.
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband called the arrests "harassment" and dismissed the allegations as baseless.
Relations between the countries are strained after Tehran accused the UK of stoking unrest, which London denies.Relations between the countries are strained after Tehran accused the UK of stoking unrest, which London denies.
Some 17 people are thought to have died in street protests after the disputed 12 June presidential poll. Iran has repeatedly accused foreign powers - especially Britain and the US - of stoking the unrest that swept the country after the 12 June election, which handed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a decisive victory.
Tehran has expelled two British diplomats in the past week, and the UK has responded with a similar measure. In the fallout of the crisis, Tehran expelled two British diplomats in the past week, and the UK has responded with a similar measure.
The arrests were first reported by the semi-official Fars news agency. Strained relations
Mr Miliband said about nine employees had been detained in total, but some had been released.
Tehran has blamed the US and UK for post-election unrest
"We are still concerned about a number of them who to our knowledge have not been released... The numbers are changing hour by hour," he said on the sidelines of a European security meeting on the Greek island of Corfu.
"The idea that the British Embassy is somehow behind the demonstrations and protests that have been taking place in Tehran in recent weeks is wholly without foundation," he added.
A strong protest had been made directly to the Iranian authorities, but there had been no response.
Mr Miliband said he would discuss the arrests with his European Union colleagues.
"All European countries have made clear that they want to stand together in standing up for the diplomatic principles that are important for our diplomatic activity all over the world," he said.
The arrests were first reported by Iran's semi-official Fars news agency.
"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.
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband expressed "deep concern" over the arrest of local staff on Saturday. Some 17 people are thought to have died in street protests after the disputed presidential poll, which the opposition complains was rigged.
"This is harassment and intimidation of a kind that is quite unacceptable," he told reporters at an international conference in Corfu. "We want to see (them) released unharmed."
He said the British government had made a strong protest and denied accusations that the UK was behind unrest in Iran.
Poll verdictPoll 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. Meanwhile, Iran's powerful Guardian Council was due to give its verdict on the result of the disputed presidential election.
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 questionsIRAN 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.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.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.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.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.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.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.