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TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Hard-line Iranian students stormed British
diplomatic sites in Tehran on Tuesday, bringing down the Union Jack
flag, burning an embassy vehicle and throwing documents from
windows in scenes reminiscent of the seizing of the U.S. Embassy
compound in 1979.


      The mob surged past riot police into the British Embassy complex
- which they pelted with petrol bombs and stones - two days after
Iran's parliament approved a bill that reduces diplomatic relations
with Britain following London's support of recently upgraded
Western sanctions on Tehran over its disputed nuclear program.
Flames shot out of a sport utility vehicle parked outside the brick
building.


      Demonstrators outside the embassy also burned British flags and
clashed with police as the rally, which had been organized by
student groups at universities and seminaries.


      Less than two hours later, police appeared to regain control of
the site. But the official IRNA news agency said about 300
protesters entered the British ambassador's residence in another
part of the city and replaced British flags with Iranian ones. The
British Foreign Office harshly denounced the melee and said Iran
has a "clear duty" under international law to protect diplomats
and offices.


      "We are outraged by this," said the statement. "It is utterly
unacceptable and we condemn it."


      It said a "significant number" of protesters entered the
compound and caused vandalism, but gave no other details on damage
or whether diplomatic staff was inside the embassy, although the
storming occurred after business hours.


      In Washington, the White House issued a statement strongly
condemning the attacks and saying Iran has an obligation to protect
foreign embassies. The U.S. broke off diplomatic relations with
Iran during the embassy siege in 1980.


      The semiofficial Mehr news agency said embassy staff had left
the compound before the mobs entered, but it also said those who
occupied the area had taken six staff as hostages. It did not give
their nationalities and the report was later removed from the
website without elaboration.


      The protesters broke through after clashing with anti-riot
police and chanting for its takeover. "Death to England," some
cried in the first significant assault of a foreign diplomatic area
in Iran in years. More protesters poured into the compound as
police tried to clear the site.


      Smoke rose from some areas of the embassy grounds and the
British flag was replaced with a banner in the name of 7th century
Shiite saint, Imam Hussein. Occupiers also tore down picture of
Queen Elizabeth II.


      The occupier called for the closure of the embassy calling it a
"spy den" - the same phrase used after militants stormed the U.S.
embassy in Tehran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and held 52
hostages for 444 days. In the early moments of the siege,
protesters tossed out papers from the compound and hauled down the
U.S. flag. Washington and Tehran have no diplomatic relations since
then.


      The rally outside the British Embassy - on a main street in
Tehran downtown - included protesters carrying photographs of
nuclear scientist Majid Shahriari, who was killed last year in an
attack that Iran blamed on Israeli and British spy services.


      State TV reported that another group of hard-line students
gathered at the gate of British ambassador's residence in northern
Tehran, at the same time.


      Britain's Foreign Office said it was in contact with embassy
officials. Officials were still checking on the well-being of
workers and diplomats, a spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity
in line with standing policy.


      It also warned its citizens in Iran to "stay inside and keep a
low profile."


      Tensions with Britain date back to the 19th century when the
Persian monarchy gave huge industrial concessions to London, which
later included significant control over Iran's oil industry.


      But they have become increasingly strained as the West accuses
Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons - a charge Tehran denies.


      In recent years, Iran was angered by Britain's decision in 2007
honor author Salman Rushdie with a knighthood.


      Rushdie went into hiding after Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini issued
a 1989 fatwa, or religious edict, ordering Muslims to kill the
author because his novel "The Satanic Verses" allegedly insulted
Islam.


      The decision shortly after Iran detained 15 British sailors and
marines in March 2007 for allegedly entering the country's
territorial waters in the Gulf - a claim Britain denies. The 15
were released after nearly two weeks in captivity.


      In 2006, angry mobs burned the Danish flag and attacked Danish
and other Western embassies in Tehran in protest to the reprinting
of a cartoon deemed insulting of the Prophet Muhammad in the Nordic
country's newspapers.

Gallery

Dozens of hard-line Iranian students stormed the British Embassy in Tehran on Tuesday, bringing down the Union Jack flag and throwing documents from windows in scenes reminiscent of the anger against Western powers after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iranian students storm British Embassy in Tehran

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