Protesters try to storm Italian embassy in Tehran: minister

Protests outside EU embassies in Iran: diplomats
Tehran (AFP) Feb 9, 2010 - Dozens of pro-regime militants demonstrated outside several EU embassies in Iran on Tuesday to protest Europe's attitude towards Iran and its controversial nuclear programme, European diplomats said. They said the protesters gathered outside the embassies of France, Germany and Italy -- all of which were under heavy police guard -- and chanted slogans against those countries. The only reported trouble was when a stone was thrown at the Italian mission, without causing any damage. France and Italy have joined the United States in calling for "strong" new sanctions against the Islamic republic over its decision to begin further enriching uranium amid Western fears it is developing a nuclear bomb. Germany is one of six world powers engaged in talks on Iran's nuclear drive. Berlin, which has traditionally enjoyed close trade ties with Iran, has bolstered in recent weeks its backing for a fourth round of sanctions. In 1979, shortly after the Islamic revolution, students seized the US embassy and took 52 diplomats hostage, prompting Washington to break off diplomatic relations. The hostages were held for 444 days.

by Staff Writers
Rome (AFP) Feb 9, 2010
Around 100 pro-government militia members tried to storm Italy's embassy in Tehran on Tuesday, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told a Senate hearing.

They shouted "Death to Italy, death to Berlusconi," Frattini said, adding that police intervened to "prevent a veritable attack on the Italian embassy."

A ministry spokeswoman told AFP that some protesters threw stones at the embassy.

The foreign minister said no "significant damage" was caused and that the embassy would remain open.

Frattini said similar protests took place outside the French and Dutch missions in Tehran.

"Contacts are under way at the European level" to reach a consensus on sending a "signal of strong concern" over the incidents, he said.

Frattini added that Italy had cancelled its attendance at ceremonies in Tehran on Thursday marking the anniversary of the Iranian Revolution.

In Jerusalem last Wednesday, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi pledged Italy's firm support for Tehran's arch-foe Israel and urged "effective sanctions" against Iran.

The remarks prompted Iranian state television to assert that Berlusconi was a servant of his "Israeli masters" and denounce "serious interference in internal (Iranian) affairs."

Asked as he left the Senate whether Tuesday's protest was related, Frattini replied that Iran's relations with Italy were not more "strained" than with other countries.

"Iran has complex and problematic relations with the whole international community," he said.

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Russia toughens line on Iran nuclear ambitions
Moscow (AFP) Feb 9, 2010
Russia toughened its stance on Iran's nuclear project on Tuesday after the Islamic state ramped up uranium enrichment, and US officials said a new UN sanctions resolution could be ready in weeks. The powerful head of Russia's national security council, Nikolai Patrushev, said Tehran's announcement that it has started work to produce 20 percent enriched uranium cast doubt on its claims not to ... read more

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