Iran says British embassy officials will stand trial

[Chris]

^{(Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty)}

Iran’s top legislative body announced today that British embassy staff accused of inciting post-election violence will be forced to stand trial in Tehran.

The surprise move by the Guardian Council caused relations between London and the Iranian regime to sink still further after the two countries engaged in tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions last week. Downing Street said the Government was concerned and seeking urgent clarification.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly blamed foreign powers, specifically Britain, for stirring up the protests that greeted his discredited re-election on June 12.

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of the Guardian Council which ratified the presidential election on Monday, said: “In these incidents, [the British] embassy had a presence, some people were arrested. Naturally they will be put on trial, they have made confessions.”

A Foreign Office spokesman denied that embassy staff took any part in demonstrations and demanded more information from Tehran.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6629514.ece

[Gratiot]

EDITOR'S NOTE: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. This report is based on the accounts of witnesses reached in Iran and official statements carried on Iranian media.

A powerful cleric said Friday that Iran will put British Embassy staffers on trial for fomenting postelection turmoil, a step that would likely increase Iran's isolation and alienate Western nations that have been trying to keep options open with Tehran despite its crackdown on protesters.
The announcement fueled calls in Europe for tougher action against Tehran. Britain is pressing for members of the European Union to pull their ambassadors out of Tehran to protest the staffers' arrests last week.

Yahoo News

[thundley4]

Don't worry, all will be well as soon as the petulant Iranians listen to the soothing words of the Messiah.

[Chris]

Don't worry, all will be well as soon as the petulant Iranians listen to the soothing words of the Messiah.

Yeah, that worked so well last time.

Our Prez0dent will probably side with the mullahs if recent history is any evidence.

[JohnnyReb]

Peanuts!.... Get your Peanuts! .....30 year old Peanuts!