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UK Embassy Staff Will Face Trial in Iran

Leading cleric also accuses Britain of instigating protests

By the Associated Press

Posted Jul 3, 2009 6:14 AM CDT
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(AP) – Some of the detained Iranian staffers of the British Embassy in Tehran will be put on trial, the leader of the country's powerful Guardian Council said today. Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati also accused Britain of a role in instigating widespread protests that erupted over the country's disputed presidential election. Yesterday, the EU demanded that Iran release the employees, and Britain is pushing for all 27 EU nations to pull their ambassadors out of Tehran.

It's unclear who is being put on trial or how many staffers remain detained. Iranian officials had said all but one of the eight embassy personnel arrested on June 27 had been released, but the EU believes more than one was still being held. Jannati told worshipers in Tehran that the arrested employees had "made confessions," and he said those involved in protests "need to repent and ask God to forgive them."

A woman passes Iranian police officers as they stand guard in front of the British Embassy during an anti-British protest in Tehran, Iran.
A woman passes Iranian police officers as they stand guard in front of the British Embassy during an anti-British protest in Tehran, Iran.   (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
David Miliband, the British foreign secretary, looks on ahead a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Iran on the island of Corfu, Greece, on Sunday, June 28, 2009.
David Miliband, the British foreign secretary, looks on ahead a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Iran on the island of Corfu, Greece, on Sunday, June 28, 2009.   (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, seen with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said in his prayer sermon today that some of the detained Iranian staffers of the British Embassy in Tehran will be put on trial.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, seen with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said in his prayer sermon today that some of the detained Iranian staffers of the British Embassy in Tehran will be put on trial.   (AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian,File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
justme
Jul 5, 2009 10:01 AM CDT
Well what do you know, the US is second in line for blame on this one. We should demand a recount.
NotEvsie
Jul 3, 2009 12:24 PM CDT
They have tried making the people's revolt all about America... and failed. So now it's all about Britain. Nothing at all to do with poverty levels in one of the richest countries in the world, or the lack of a voice for the people, or democracy or anything silly like that. It's all about western intervention. Good to know. *sigh*
Rob
Jul 3, 2009 12:13 PM CDT
Did you even read the article?

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Iran • United Kingdom • trial • embassy • arrest • Iranian election • Iranian protests

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