Iran

Five British embassy staff freed

Article published on the 2009-06-29 Latest update 2009-06-29 11:01 TU

Iranian flag
(credit: wikipedia)

Iranian ministry spokesman, Hassan Ghashghavi told reporters at a press conference in Tehran that five of nine local British embassy staff that were arrested over the weekend had been released. The local staff were accused of stoking post-election unrest following the disputed re-election of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a move that threatened to increase tension with London.

Ghashghavi said that Iran had no current plans to downgrade diplomatic ties with foreign nations. "There is no plan at the moment to close any embassy or downgrade ties with them," Ghashghavi said when asked if Tehran planned to close the British embassy.

Iran has accused western nations, particularly Britain and the US, of meddling in Iran’s internal affairs.

Meanwhile, president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for a probe into the death of Neda Agah-Soltan, a woman who was killed during a protest rally in Tehran.

An internet video showing her final moments was seen around the world and sparked an international outcry.  She has since become an icon for the opposition, which protesting Ahmadinejad's re-election.

Ahmadinejad accuses foreign media of fabrcating reports on Nada's death.  In a letter to judiciary chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi he said "it seems there is clear interference by the enemies of Iran who want to misuse the situation politically and tarnish the clean image of the Islamic republic."