Britain withdrawing some embassy staff from Iran

LONDON?? Britain is withdrawing some staff and dependents from its embassy in Tehran after it was stormed by Iranian protesters, some of whom tossed petrol bombs at the facility, the Foreign Office said Wednesday.

It declined to say how many people were being removed or give other details, but insisted that "ensuring the safety of our staff and their families is our immediate priority."

Some diplomatic work is ongoing, though the embassy is officially closed.

Video: Iranians storm British embassy, protest sanctions (on this page)

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Hard-line protesters hauled down the Union Jack, set fire to an embassy vehicle and pelted buildings with petrol bombs on Tuesday in what apparently began as a state-approved show of anger over the latest Western sanctions to punish Iran for defiance over its nuclear program.

Iran's parliament approved a bill Sunday to downgrade relations with Britain, one of America's closest allies with diplomatic envoys in the Islamic Republic.

Story: Cameron: Iran faces 'serious consequences' for failing to protect British Embassy

The hours-long assault Tuesday on the British Embassy and a residential complex for staff ? in chaotic scenes reminiscent of the seizing of the U.S. Embassy in 1979 ? could push already frayed diplomatic ties toward the breaking point.

British Prime Minister David Cameron called Tuesday's attack "outrageous and indefensible" and said Iran's failure to defend the embassy and its staff was a disgrace and would have "serious consequences."

PhotoBlog: Iranian protesters break into British Embassy in Tehran

A Norwegian government official also said it had closed its embassy in Tehran due to security concerns.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hilde Steinfeld said the decision to close the embassy was taken late Tuesday, but that Norway's diplomatic staff have not been evacuated from the country.

Steinfeld would not go into greater detail Wednesday, but said the decision came "after security concerns" and "in context with the attack on the British Embassy."

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45488593/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/

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