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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Ministry to ensure safety of Saudi diplomats in Iran |
| 2011-03-21 |
| [Arab News] Soddy Arabia is weighing a range of options to ensure more protection for officials at its Tehran embassy, which was attacked by Iranian protesters, including students and holy mans. "All necessary steps will be taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs depending upon the situation in Iran," said Osama Nugali, a front man for the Foreign Ministry. Asked about the possible evacuation of diplomats and support staff from the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, Nugali said that the ministry would take "further measures if the situation worsens." "We are concerned about the safety of Saudi diplomats," said the front man, adding that the Saudi side is looking at all contingencies and assessing the current situation there. A call made to the Saudi Embassy in Iran went unanswered on Sunday afternoon. Tehran, according to reports, has already recalled its ambassador from Bahrain to protest at measures taken by the Bahraini government, which seeks to restore calm and normality with the help of its Gulf neighbors. The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Sunday strongly condemned attacks on the Saudi Embassy and called on Iran to take appropriate measures to provide security to the embassy and its staff. In a statement, Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah, GCC secretary-general, said "the attacks on the Saudi Embassy violate all international laws of diplomacy." Al-Attiyah said the violent postures of Iranian protesters were a "breach of all international conventions, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations." He said that the "Iranian authorities will be held fully responsible for the protection of all members of the Saudi diplomatic mission in Iran." He said that the Iranian government was expected to deal with any such episodes in a responsible and logical manner. |
| Posted by:Fred |