Monday, July 06, 2009 EVIAN-LES-BAINS: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned Iran Monday that the European Union was ready to act in response to British embassy staff detentions and expulsion of diplomats."The Iranian regime must be clear that if this action continues and we are forced to act, we will act together with our European partners," Brown said at a joint news conference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.Britain confirmed earlier that Iran had released an eighth local staff member of the British embassy in Tehran, leaving one still in detention.Iran has accused the embassy employees of having instigated riots following the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad."We both agree that the outcome of Iran's election is a matter for the Iranian people," Brown said in the Alpine town of Evian-les-Bains."But the totally unjustified expulsions of foreign diplomats and continued detention of embassy staff is unacceptable and unjustified," he added.Sarkozy expressed France's "total solidarity" with Britain over the diplomatic crisis with Iran and described Tehran's action as "disproportionate"."The Iranian people deserve better than this from their leaders," said Sarkozy.Iran's powerful Guardians Council said Friday that some of the British staff would be put on trial for allegedly stoking violence after the June 12 election, but did not say how many.Tehran has also expelled two British diplomats from Iran, with Britain expelling two Iranian diplomats in a tit-for-tat measure.Sarkozy and Brown were holding a summit two days ahead of the Group of Eight summit in Italy that is expected to address the Iran crisis.
Monday, July 06, 2009 EVIAN-LES-BAINS: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned Iran Monday that the European Union was ready to act in response to British embassy staff detentions and expulsion of diplomats."The Iranian regime must be clear that if this action continues and we are forced to act, we will act together with our European partners," Brown said at a joint news conference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.Britain confirmed earlier that Iran had released an eighth local staff member of the British embassy in Tehran, leaving one still in detention.Iran has accused the embassy employees of having instigated riots following the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad."We both agree that the outcome of Iran's election is a matter for the Iranian people," Brown said in the Alpine town of Evian-les-Bains."But the totally unjustified expulsions of foreign diplomats and continued detention of embassy staff is unacceptable and unjustified," he added.Sarkozy expressed France's "total solidarity" with Britain over the diplomatic crisis with Iran and described Tehran's action as "disproportionate"."The Iranian people deserve better than this from their leaders," said Sarkozy.Iran's powerful Guardians Council said Friday that some of the British staff would be put on trial for allegedly stoking violence after the June 12 election, but did not say how many.Tehran has also expelled two British diplomats from Iran, with Britain expelling two Iranian diplomats in a tit-for-tat measure.Sarkozy and Brown were holding a summit two days ahead of the Group of Eight summit in Italy that is expected to address the Iran crisis.
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