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Thursday, March 29, 2007
Iranians Accuses UK Forces of Raiding Iraq Consulate
March 29, 2007
AFX News
Forbes.com
TEHRAN -- The Iranian consulate in Iraq's southern city of Basra accused British forces of storming and surrounding its office during a shootout with gunmen today. The British military flatly denied any such incident, saying its soldiers had come under small arms fire during a routine patrol in the vicinity of the Iranian consulate but did not leave their vehicles.
The incident came amid a diplomatic standoff between Tehran and London over Iran's seizure of 15 British sailors and marines in Gulf waters last Friday.
'British forces sealed off the Iranian consulate in Basra. They went inside for 10 minutes and after that there was intense gunfire on them,' Iranian consul Mohammed Reva Nasir told Agence France-Presse in Basra.
'This is a provocative act against the Iranian consulate in Basra. I believe it has something to do with the British detainees in Iran,' he said.
Asked whether British troops raided the consulate, spokesman Major David Gell told AFP: 'No. Absolutely not.'
'There was a vehicle patrol going back into Basra Palace (a British base in Basra). The rear vehicle received small arms fire. We returned fire in self defence and the patrol continued on,' Gell said.
'I'm led to believe (the incident happened) in the same street' as the Iranian consulate, he added.
'There is absolutely no link to the building. It's pure coincidence that it took place in that area,' Gell said.
'No troops were injured and none of them got out of the vehicle.'
The Iranian foreign ministry protested what it called 'the British forces' provocative act,' according to a statement obtained by AFP.
'The Iranian consulate operates with the consent of Iraqi authorities and its personnel enjoy diplomatic immunity.
'Iran has protested to the Iraqi authorities, who are responsible for the safety of consular personnel under international law,' the ministry said.
newsdesk@afxnews.com
link to original article
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