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Iran 'must free UK embassy staff'
The European Union has demanded the immediate release of Iranian staff at Britain's embassy in Tehran detained on Saturday over post-election unrest.
EU ministers meeting in Greece warned that "harassment or intimidation" of embassy staff would be met with a "strong and collective" response.
Iranian media reported that eight local staff at the UK mission had been held for their role in the recent riots.
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband dismissed the allegations as baseless.
Relations between the countries are strained after President Ahmadinejad accused the UK of stoking post-election protests, which London denies.
Iran has repeatedly accused foreign powers - especially Britain and the US - of meddling after the 12 June election, which handed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a decisive victory.
In the fallout of the crisis, Tehran expelled two British diplomats in the past week, and the UK has responded with a similar measure.
Strained relations
Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of European foreign ministers on the Greek island of Corfu, Mr Miliband said: "The idea that the British Embassy is somehow behind the demonstrations and protests that have been taking place in Tehran in recent weeks is wholly without foundation."
In a later statement, the EU ministers said: "Harassment or intimidation of foreign or Iranian staff working in embassies will be met with a strong and collective EU response."
The arrests were first reported by Iran's semi-official Fars news agency.
"Eight local employees at the British embassy who had a considerable role in recent unrest were taken into custody," Fars said, without giving a source.
Some 17 people are thought to have died in street protests after the disputed presidential poll, which the opposition complains was rigged.
Rafsanjani breaks silence
Meanwhile, Iran's powerful Guardian Council was due to rule on complaints about the presidential election.
Mr Ahmadinejad's rivals have alleged massive fraud.
The BBC's Jeremy Bowen in Tehran says there is much politicking taking place behind the scenes, and that the five-day deadline for the Guardian Council to return its verdict may be extended.
The powerful former President, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has broken his silence on the election dispute.
Mr Rafsanjani, who heads two important organs of government, praised a decision by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to give the Guardian Council time to examine complaints by the three defeated candidates.
"This valuable move by the Supreme Leader in order to attract the people's trust towards the election process was very effective," Mr Rafsanjani said, according to Iranian news agencies.
"I hope those who are involved in this issue thoroughly and fairly review and study the legal complaints," he said.
Opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi has not backed away from his claim that the election result was fraudulent, and has refused to support the Guardian Council's plan for a partial recount.
Mr Mousavi has been calling for a full re-run of the vote, but said on Saturday that he would accept a review by an independent body.
However the Guardian Council has already defended President Ahmadinejad's re-election, saying on Friday that the presidential poll was the "healthiest" since the Iranian revolution in 1979.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...st/8123261.stm
