Iran consul in Iraq accuses UK soldiers of provocation

[Purveyor]

Source: Reuters

BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) - Iran's consul in the Iraqi city of Basra accused British forces of surrounding the consulate on Thursday and firing into the air in a provocative act at a time of heightened tension between the two countries.

But the British military denied any aggressive action and said the shots heard came from a British convoy that was ambushed in the same street as the consulate in central Basra.

Iranian consul Mohammed Reza Baghban said: "They came at 10 a.m. and surrounded the consulate. After 20 minutes they started shooting in different directions. They are trying to irritate us because of the issue of the capture of the British soldiers, but this behaviour will make the issue worse."

The British military spokesman in Basra, Major David Gell, confirmed there was an incident near the consulate but said it was "geographical coincidence".



Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKCOL93054820070329

[951-Riverside]

1. Iran should swallow their pride and just... send back the 5 captives