Two British embassy staff in Iran freed

2 Jul 2009, 5:48 am   -   Source: AAP
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Britain says two more staff from its embassy in Tehran have been released - and is checking reports that a third has also been freed.

Britain says two more staff from its embassy in Tehran have been released - and is checking reports that a third has also been freed.

Iran's state-run Press TV reported that just one of the nine local staff members arrested for their alleged role in post-election violence was still in custody.

A British Foreign Office spokeswoman on Wednesday said: "The latest situation is two of our staff have been released over the last two days.

"We are also seeking confirmation following Iranian reports that a further member of staff has been released today.

"It remains our top priority to get all British embassy staff released as soon as possible. We are continuing intensive discussions with the Iranian authorities and our international partners to resolve this issue."

Iran accused the embassy employees of instigating riots in the unrest that erupted over the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Britain has rejected the allegations as baseless.

Press TV said only one embassy worker remained in custody after three were released, without specifying when. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said on Monday that five had been freed.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown expressed "deep disappointment" on Wednesday at Iran's behaviour since the elections, including its arrest of the embassy staff.

"This action is unjustified and it is unacceptable and some people in Iran are trying to seek to use Britain as an explanation for the legitimate Iranian voices calling for greater openness and democracy," he told parliament.

European diplomatic sources said EU nations were considering a proposal from Britain to recall all their ambassadors from Iran in protest at the detention of the British embassy employees.

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