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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| UK embassy worker in Iran court | UK embassy worker in Iran court |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A decision by the Iranian authorities to put a British Embassy worker on trial in Tehran has been condemned as an "outrage" by the Foreign Office. | A decision by the Iranian authorities to put a British Embassy worker on trial in Tehran has been condemned as an "outrage" by the Foreign Office. |
| It confirmed Iranian Hossein Rassam - the embassy's chief political analyst - was among the accused at a mass trial which began on Saturday morning. | It confirmed Iranian Hossein Rassam - the embassy's chief political analyst - was among the accused at a mass trial which began on Saturday morning. |
| Mr Rassam is accused of spying and inciting unrest over President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election in June. | |
| Nine embassy employees were arrested but he is the only one to be charged. | Nine embassy employees were arrested but he is the only one to be charged. |
| A Foreign Office spokeswoman said the British ambassador in Tehran was seeking clarification on "this latest outrage". | A Foreign Office spokeswoman said the British ambassador in Tehran was seeking clarification on "this latest outrage". |
| "This is completely unacceptable and directly contradicts assurances we had been given repeatedly by senior Iranian officials," she said. | "This is completely unacceptable and directly contradicts assurances we had been given repeatedly by senior Iranian officials," she said. |
| "We deplore these trials and the so-called confessions of prisoners who have been denied their basic human rights." | |
| Mr Rassam was released on bail last month, a move welcomed by the Foreign Secretary David Miliband. | Mr Rassam was released on bail last month, a move welcomed by the Foreign Secretary David Miliband. |
| At the time he said: "The detention of embassy staff was completely unjustified: I am confident that none of them were involved in any improper behaviour." | At the time he said: "The detention of embassy staff was completely unjustified: I am confident that none of them were involved in any improper behaviour." |
| Foreign powers | Foreign powers |
| The BBC's John Leyne says Mr Rassam is among the latest group of people put on trial in Iran accused of provoking the unrest that followed the disputed presidential election two months ago. | |
| He added Mr Rassam, the most senior Iranian employee at the British Embassy, had also been charged with spying. | |
| He appeared in court along with French teacher Clotilde Reiss and a female Iranian employee of the French embassy, named as Ashfar. | |
| Britain has denied Tehran's accusations that embassy staff had been involved in instigating mass demonstrations. | Britain has denied Tehran's accusations that embassy staff had been involved in instigating mass demonstrations. |
| Violent street protests broke out after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected in the 12 June vote. | Violent street protests broke out after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected in the 12 June vote. |
| Iran has repeatedly accused foreign powers - especially Britain and the US - of stoking the demonstrations. | Iran has repeatedly accused foreign powers - especially Britain and the US - of stoking the demonstrations. |
| Opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi says the vote was rigged in favour of Mr Ahmadinejad. | Opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi says the vote was rigged in favour of Mr Ahmadinejad. |
| The president and Iran's main election body, the Council of Guardians, have rejected the charge. | The president and Iran's main election body, the Council of Guardians, have rejected the charge. |