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Iran protesters storm UK embassy in Tehran |
29 Nov 2011 12:11 #63063
by The Captain
29 November 2011 Last updated at 12:03 ET Share this page
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Iran protesters storm UK embassy in Tehran
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The BBC's James Reynolds says there is a lot of anger among the protesters
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Protesters in the Iranian capital, Tehran, have broken into the UK embassy compound during a demonstration against sanctions imposed by Britain.
Militant students are said to have removed the British flag, burnt it and replaced it with Iran's flag. State TV showed youths smashing embassy windows.
The move comes after Iran resolved to reduce ties following the UK's decision to impose further sanctions on it.
The UK's Foreign Office said it was "outraged " by the actions.
"It is utterly unacceptable," it said in a statement. "The Iranian government have a clear duty to protect diplomats and embassies."
It later updated its travel advice to Iran, urging Britons there to "stay indoors, keep a low profile and await further advice
The Iranian Foreign Ministry later expressed its "regret for certain unacceptable behaviour by a small number of protesters in spite of efforts by the police".
"The relevant authorities have been asked to take the necessary measures and look into this issue immediately," it said.
The students clashed with riot police and chanted "the embassy of Britain should be taken over" and "death to England".
Students were said to have ransacked offices inside the building, and one protester was reported to be waving a framed picture of Queen Elizabeth II.
Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency said embassy documents had been set alight. Staff fled by the back door, the agency added.
Pictures showed a car inside the compound on fire while several hundred other demonstrators were gathered outside the embassy's walls.
After about two hours, police seemed to be back in control of the building. Live TV footage showed riot police removing protesters.
Security forces fired tear gas, the semi-official Fars news agency reported. It said some protesters and police had been injured in the clash.
However, later reports said some protesters were still in the embassy. The governor of Tehran and the city's head of security have entered
Militant students are said to have removed the British flag, burnt it and replaced it with Iran's flag. State TV showed youths smashing embassy windows.
The move comes after Iran resolved to reduce ties following the UK's decision to impose further sanctions on it.
The UK's Foreign Office said it was "outraged " by the actions.
"It is utterly unacceptable," it said in a statement. "The Iranian government have a clear duty to protect diplomats and embassies."
It later updated its travel advice to Iran, urging Britons there to "stay indoors, keep a low profile and await further advice
The Iranian Foreign Ministry later expressed its "regret for certain unacceptable behaviour by a small number of protesters in spite of efforts by the police".
"The relevant authorities have been asked to take the necessary measures and look into this issue immediately," it said.
The students clashed with riot police and chanted "the embassy of Britain should be taken over" and "death to England".
Students were said to have ransacked offices inside the building, and one protester was reported to be waving a framed picture of Queen Elizabeth II.
Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency said embassy documents had been set alight. Staff fled by the back door, the agency added.
Pictures showed a car inside the compound on fire while several hundred other demonstrators were gathered outside the embassy's walls.
After about two hours, police seemed to be back in control of the building. Live TV footage showed riot police removing protesters.
Security forces fired tear gas, the semi-official Fars news agency reported. It said some protesters and police had been injured in the clash.
However, later reports said some protesters were still in the embassy. The governor of Tehran and the city's head of security have entered
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