| Embassies Stoned by Militia in Protest Over 'Interference' |
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By Martin Fletcher Government supporters also gathered and chanted slogans outside the French Embassy and there were unconfirmed reports of protests outside the German and Dutch missions. Mr Frattini said that Italy was contacting other members of the European Union to send a “signal of strong concern” to the regime, and would boycott tomorrow’s ceremonies in Tehran marking the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said that the British Embassy witnessed no protests outside its walls yesterday, but added: “We are aware that the Italians and some other EU colleagues did. We, too, have suffered demonstrations in recent months that have sometimes turned violent.” Britain has yet to decide whether to attend tomorrow’s ceremonies, which are expected to be overshadowed by huge opposition protests. It is keen to engage the regime on the nuclear issue, but attracted considerable criticism when Simon Gass, the British Ambassador in Tehran, attended President Ahmadinejad’s inauguration in August after an election that was widely regarded as fraudulent. Demonstrations such as yesterday’s do not take place without the regime’s approval and encouragement, and were probably a riposte to recent comments by Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, and Bernard Kouchner, the French Foreign Minister. The Iranian IRNA news agency condemned both countries’ “interference in Iran’s domestic affairs”. In Jerusalem last week, Mr Berlusconi expressed strong support for Israel, calling for “effective sanctions” against the Islamic Republic over its nuclear programme. Iranian TV denounced Mr Berlusconi as a “slave of Israel”. On Monday, Mr Kouchner accused Iran of “blackmail” after it announced plans to start enriching uranium to 20 per cent. Fearing a bloody crackdown on the opposition tomorrow, the EU has also issued a rare joint statement with the United States urging the regime to live up to its international human rights obligations. An Iranian was sentenced to death yesterday and eight others jailed for allegedly taking part in December’s anti-government protests.
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Supporters of the Iranian regime tried to attack the Italian Embassy and staged demonstrations outside other European missions in Tehran yesterday in apparent protest at Europe’s stance towards the Islamic Republic and its nuclear programme.
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