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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| 'Outrage' As Iran Tries UK Embassy Employee |
| 2009-08-09 |
| Strained relations between Britain and Iran have been aggravated by the inclusion of an embassy worker at a mass trial in Tehran. The Foreign Office said it was "outraged" that the British embassy's chief political analyst was on trial. It said his appearance contradicted assurances given by senior Iranian officials and was "completely unacceptable". Hossein Rassam, an Iranian national, has been accused of spying and inciting unrest after the disputed presidential elections. Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he was deeply concerned at the "unjustified charges" laid against Mr Rassam. "Hossein is a member of our embassy staff going about his legitimate duties," he said. "Iranian action against him, and [others]... only brings further discredit on the Iranian regime." Mr Rassam was one of nine embassy staff arrested in the wake of protests against the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. |
| Posted by:Fred |