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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran | |
| Mob Attacks British Embassy | |
| 2007-04-01 | |
| Britain is in "direct bilateral communication" with Iran over the 15 sailors and marines captured by the Middle East country, according to the Defence Secretary. Des Browne said: "We are anxious that this matter be resolved as quickly as possible and that it be resolved by diplomatic means. "It's not my intention to go through the detail of that blow by blow, and it wouldn't be appropriate to do that, but we are in direct bilateral communication with the Iranians."
"If Mr Browne chose his words very carefully then the word bilateral was a deliberate use to show everybody that we are dealing with it bilaterally. "It seems they are edging towards each other." The news came after rocks and firecrackers were thrown at the British embassy in Tehran as the row over the issue escalates. Witnesses said there had been several small blasts and smoke could be seen rising in the compound. Demonstrators called for the expulsion of the UK ambassador and the closure of the embassy, calling it a "den of spies". Around 200 people massed outside, chanting "death to Britain" and "death to America". Marshall said the demonstration would have been sanctioned by Iranian officials. He added: "This is a warning. In the last protest there were around 10 people, around 200 this time and next time it could be thousands." The demonstrators - mainly students - did not breach the compound, which was protected by police, and there were no reports of injuries. This is starting to sound familiar... Earlier, George Bush condemned Iran's "inexcusable behaviour" in taking the service personnel. He said he strongly supported the British government's attempts to resolve the stand-off peacefully - and insisted the "innocent hostages" be released immediately. Speaking at his Camp David retreat in Maryland, the President rejected suggestions that Iranians held in Iraq be freed in return for the release of the Britons. He said: "Iran must give back the hostages. They're innocent, they did nothing wrong and they were summarily plucked out of the water." French presidential hopeful Segolene Royal suggested European sanctions should be introduced against Iran. She told French TV that she was "shocked" at the capture. However, Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, attacked Britain as "arrogant and selfish" for trespassing in his country's waters. A formal protest to Britain over an alleged shooting incident in Iraq has also been lodged. | |
| Posted by:Dave D. |
| #9 Britain still has an embassy in Teheran? Excellent. In no time at all, 444 days in captivity won't just describe the American embassy hostage situation in 1979. You gotta love soft power. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2007-04-01 20:05 |
| #8 Actually, Iran has committed an act of war by crossing into Iraqi waters and taking hostages. So, Well? http://op-for.com/2007/03/iran_blusters.html |
| Posted by: newc 2007-04-01 15:41 |
| #7 Students my ass. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2007-04-01 13:40 |
| #6 Truth be told, I am surprised at the timidity of the Iranians. |
| Posted by: Perfesser 2007-04-01 13:38 |
| #5 Those who refuse to learn from 1979 are doomed to repeat it. Instruct the Marines to fire into any crowd that enters the embassy grounds. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-04-01 13:13 |
| #4 My prediction - he will be crushed. Blair? Because he's certainly acting like someone perfectly intent on getting crushed. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2007-04-01 13:02 |
| #3 I don't think it will work this time. That bag of tricks has been all used up over the last ~30 years. My prediction - he will be crushed. Too many strong dogs in this fight and too much at stake. |
| Posted by: Angaiger Tojo1904 2007-04-01 12:56 |
| #2 The pansies are yet to understand that when you give to a bully it doesn't end the situation it only makes the demands and bullying worse. Britian is about to find out just how much worse it can be. The embassy staff/marines better be ready and loaded to hold at all cost for a extended period of time. However it plays out it will be a longtime before we are able to attempt a rescue evac. |
| Posted by: C-Low 2007-04-01 12:52 |
| #1 Ahmadickhead is harking back to his glory days. Hey, it worked the first time around... |
| Posted by: Jonathan 2007-04-01 12:37 |