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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US forces storm Iranian consulate | US forces storm Iranian consulate |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| US forces have stormed an Iranian consulate in the northern Iraqi town of Irbil and seized five members of staff. | US forces have stormed an Iranian consulate in the northern Iraqi town of Irbil and seized five members of staff. |
| The troops raided the building at about 0300, taking away computers and papers, according to Kurdish media and senior local officials. | The troops raided the building at about 0300, taking away computers and papers, according to Kurdish media and senior local officials. |
| The US military had no immediate comment on the raid, which comes amid high tension between Iran and the US. | The US military had no immediate comment on the raid, which comes amid high tension between Iran and the US. |
| The Bush administration accuses Iran of helping fuel violence in Iraq, as well as trying to develop nuclear weapons. | The Bush administration accuses Iran of helping fuel violence in Iraq, as well as trying to develop nuclear weapons. |
| Iran strenuously denies both charges, countering that US military involvement in the Middle East endangers the whole region. | Iran strenuously denies both charges, countering that US military involvement in the Middle East endangers the whole region. |
| A local TV station said Kurdish security forces had taken over the building after the Americans had left. | A local TV station said Kurdish security forces had taken over the building after the Americans had left. |
| Irbil lies in Iraq's Kurdish-controlled north, about 350 kilometres (220 miles) from the capital Baghdad. | Irbil lies in Iraq's Kurdish-controlled north, about 350 kilometres (220 miles) from the capital Baghdad. |
| Reports say the Iranian consulate there was set up last year under an agreement with the Kurdish regional government to facilitate cross-border visits. | |
| Iranian media said the country's embassy in Baghdad had sent a letter of protest about the raid to the Iraqi foreign ministry. | |
| In December, US troops detained a number of Iranians in Iraq, including two with diplomatic immunity who were later released. | In December, US troops detained a number of Iranians in Iraq, including two with diplomatic immunity who were later released. |