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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| Iran frees five from UK embassy | Iran frees five from UK embassy |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Five out of nine local staff from the UK embassy detained in Tehran have been released, Iranian officials say. | Five out of nine local staff from the UK embassy detained in Tehran have been released, Iranian officials say. |
| Iran's media earlier said local employees at the UK mission were held over their role in protests against June's disputed presidential election. | Iran's media earlier said local employees at the UK mission were held over their role in protests against June's disputed presidential election. |
| UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has dismissed the allegations as baseless. | UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has dismissed the allegations as baseless. |
| Separately, Iran's top legislative body began a partial recount of the poll - a move rejected by defeated opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi. | Separately, Iran's top legislative body began a partial recount of the poll - a move rejected by defeated opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi. |
| "Out of nine people, five of them have been released and the rest are being interrogated," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said at a news conference, state television Press TV reported. | "Out of nine people, five of them have been released and the rest are being interrogated," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said at a news conference, state television Press TV reported. |
| Iran's Intelligence Minister Gholam-Hoseyn Mohseni-Ezhei on Sunday said "the British embassy played a crucial role in the recent unrest both through its local staff and via media", Iran's Irna news agency reported. | Iran's Intelligence Minister Gholam-Hoseyn Mohseni-Ezhei on Sunday said "the British embassy played a crucial role in the recent unrest both through its local staff and via media", Iran's Irna news agency reported. |
| "We have photos and videos of certain local employees of the British embassy, who collected news about the protests," the minister said. | "We have photos and videos of certain local employees of the British embassy, who collected news about the protests," the minister said. |
| There is no plan at the moment to close any embassy or downgrade ties with themquote here Hassan Ghashghavi, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman | There is no plan at the moment to close any embassy or downgrade ties with themquote here Hassan Ghashghavi, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman |
| Despite the releases - which have now been been confirmed by the BBC - the fact that some employees are still being held means the issue remains a serious problem for the UK, our Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen in Tehran says. | Despite the releases - which have now been been confirmed by the BBC - the fact that some employees are still being held means the issue remains a serious problem for the UK, our Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen in Tehran says. |
| On Sunday, the European Union warned Iran that "harassment or intimidation" of embassy staff would be met with a "strong and collective" response. | On Sunday, the European Union warned Iran that "harassment or intimidation" of embassy staff would be met with a "strong and collective" response. |
| Iran has repeatedly accused foreign powers - especially Britain and the US - of meddling after the 12 June election. | Iran has repeatedly accused foreign powers - especially Britain and the US - of meddling after the 12 June election. |
| The poll was won by a landslide by incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but his opponents said the victory was achieved by massive fraud. Some 17 people are thought to have died in subsequent street protests. | |
| In the fallout from the crisis, Tehran has expelled two British diplomats and the UK has responded with a similar measure. | In the fallout from the crisis, Tehran has expelled two British diplomats and the UK has responded with a similar measure. |
| However, Mr Ghashghavi said on Monday that "there is no plan at the moment to close any embassy or downgrade ties with them". | However, Mr Ghashghavi said on Monday that "there is no plan at the moment to close any embassy or downgrade ties with them". |
| Some 17 people are thought to have died in street protests after the disputed presidential poll, which the opposition complains was rigged. | Some 17 people are thought to have died in street protests after the disputed presidential poll, which the opposition complains was rigged. |
| At least 1,000 opposition supporters are reported to have staged a noisy rally outside a mosque in Tehran on Sunday evening before it was broken up by police and militia. | At least 1,000 opposition supporters are reported to have staged a noisy rally outside a mosque in Tehran on Sunday evening before it was broken up by police and militia. |
| Riot police used tear gas and clubs to disperse the crowd outside the Ghoba Mosque, Iranian eyewitnesses said. | Riot police used tear gas and clubs to disperse the crowd outside the Ghoba Mosque, Iranian eyewitnesses said. |
| The report could not be independently verified because of reporting restrictions on foreign media. | The report could not be independently verified because of reporting restrictions on foreign media. |
| Poll verdict due | Poll verdict due |
| In a separate development, Iran's state TV said the recount had started on Monday in the capital Tehran as well as in the country's provinces. | In a separate development, Iran's state TV said the recount had started on Monday in the capital Tehran as well as in the country's provinces. |
| Iran's Guardian Council has offered to recount a random 10% of the votes from the 12 June election. | Iran's Guardian Council has offered to recount a random 10% of the votes from the 12 June election. |
| The process was expected to be completed later on Monday and the result would be announced shortly afterwards, al-Alam television said. | The process was expected to be completed later on Monday and the result would be announced shortly afterwards, al-Alam television said. |
| But Mr Mousavi insists the poll was rigged and therefore should be annulled. | But Mr Mousavi insists the poll was rigged and therefore should be annulled. |
| Current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the poll's winner - a move that triggered mass street protests. | Current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the poll's winner - a move that triggered mass street protests. |