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Mob Attacks British Embassy
Britain is in "direct bilateral communication" with Iran over the 15 sailors and marines captured by the Middle East country, according to the Defence Secretary. Des Browne said: "We are anxious that this matter be resolved as quickly as possible and that it be resolved by diplomatic means.

"It's not my intention to go through the detail of that blow by blow, and it wouldn't be appropriate to do that, but we are in direct bilateral communication with the Iranians."
If you're going to solve it by 'diplomatic means', that means you've surrendered your sovereignty in the same way Jimmuah Carter did in '79. It's going to work out about as well.
Sky's Foreign Affairs Editor Tim Marshall said the comments could be significant, as Iran has been angry that Britain has taken the issue to the United Nations. It has felt "this is only a bilateral disagreement, ie only between the two countries and it didn't require intermediaries.

"If Mr Browne chose his words very carefully then the word bilateral was a deliberate use to show everybody that we are dealing with it bilaterally.

"It seems they are edging towards each other."

The news came after rocks and firecrackers were thrown at the British embassy in Tehran as the row over the issue escalates. Witnesses said there had been several small blasts and smoke could be seen rising in the compound. Demonstrators called for the expulsion of the UK ambassador and the closure of the embassy, calling it a "den of spies". Around 200 people massed outside, chanting "death to Britain" and "death to America". Marshall said the demonstration would have been sanctioned by Iranian officials. He added: "This is a warning. In the last protest there were around 10 people, around 200 this time and next time it could be thousands." The demonstrators - mainly students - did not breach the compound, which was protected by police, and there were no reports of injuries.
This is starting to sound familiar...
Earlier, George Bush condemned Iran's "inexcusable behaviour" in taking the service personnel. He said he strongly supported the British government's attempts to resolve the stand-off peacefully - and insisted the "innocent hostages" be released immediately. Speaking at his Camp David retreat in Maryland, the President rejected suggestions that Iranians held in Iraq be freed in return for the release of the Britons. He said: "Iran must give back the hostages. They're innocent, they did nothing wrong and they were summarily plucked out of the water."

French presidential hopeful Segolene Royal suggested European sanctions should be introduced against Iran. She told French TV that she was "shocked" at the capture.

However, Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, attacked Britain as "arrogant and selfish" for trespassing in his country's waters.

A formal protest to Britain over an alleged shooting incident in Iraq has also been lodged.
Posted by: Dave D. 2007-04-01
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=184629