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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Iran 'disqualifies' EU from talks | Iran 'disqualifies' EU from talks |
| (2 days later) | |
| The EU is no longer qualified to take part in talks on Iran's nuclear programme, Iran's military chief says. | The EU is no longer qualified to take part in talks on Iran's nuclear programme, Iran's military chief says. |
| Maj-Gen Hassan Firouzabadi, Iran's chief of staff, accused the EU of "interference" in riots which followed June's disputed presidential elections. | Maj-Gen Hassan Firouzabadi, Iran's chief of staff, accused the EU of "interference" in riots which followed June's disputed presidential elections. |
| EU states, meanwhile, are considering withdrawing their ambassadors from Iran in a growing diplomatic row. | EU states, meanwhile, are considering withdrawing their ambassadors from Iran in a growing diplomatic row. |
| Britain proposed the step after Iran detained nine of its embassy staff last week. Eight have since been released. | Britain proposed the step after Iran detained nine of its embassy staff last week. Eight have since been released. |
| The BBC's European affairs correspondent Oana Lungescu says senior officials from EU capitals will discuss the request in Stockholm on Thursday. | The BBC's European affairs correspondent Oana Lungescu says senior officials from EU capitals will discuss the request in Stockholm on Thursday. |
| But diplomats say that Germany and Italy - Iran's biggest trading partners in the EU - oppose it, arguing that channels of dialogue with Iran should be kept open. | But diplomats say that Germany and Italy - Iran's biggest trading partners in the EU - oppose it, arguing that channels of dialogue with Iran should be kept open. |
| 'Nine offences' | 'Nine offences' |
| In the wake of mass street protests against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election, meanwhile, Iran's Basij militia has called for the defeated opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi to be prosecuted. | In the wake of mass street protests against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election, meanwhile, Iran's Basij militia has called for the defeated opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi to be prosecuted. |
| The semi-official Fars news agency said the militia - a volunteer force of Islamic government loyalists - had accused Mr Mousavi of nine offences, including propaganda against the state, and complicity in disrupting national security. | The semi-official Fars news agency said the militia - a volunteer force of Islamic government loyalists - had accused Mr Mousavi of nine offences, including propaganda against the state, and complicity in disrupting national security. |
| It is our historic responsibility to continue our complaint and make efforts not to give up the rights of the people Mir Hossein MousaviIranian presidential candidate href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/8123579.stm">Iran frees five from UK embassy | |
| In a letter to the chief prosecutor, the militia said Mr Mousavi had been involved in the street protests, in which about 17 protesters and a number of militia members were killed. | In a letter to the chief prosecutor, the militia said Mr Mousavi had been involved in the street protests, in which about 17 protesters and a number of militia members were killed. |
| The Iranian presidential elections, held on 12 June, returned President Ahmadinejad to power for a second term in office. | The Iranian presidential elections, held on 12 June, returned President Ahmadinejad to power for a second term in office. |
| But the opposition disputed the result, saying the vote had been rigged. | But the opposition disputed the result, saying the vote had been rigged. |
| Both Mr Mousavi, and another defeated opposition candidate Mehdi Karoubi, have issued statements on their websites describing any government led by President Ahmadinejad as "illegitimate". | Both Mr Mousavi, and another defeated opposition candidate Mehdi Karoubi, have issued statements on their websites describing any government led by President Ahmadinejad as "illegitimate". |
| Mr Mousavi wrote: "It is our historic responsibility to continue our complaint, and make efforts not to give up the rights of the people." | Mr Mousavi wrote: "It is our historic responsibility to continue our complaint, and make efforts not to give up the rights of the people." |
| And he called for the release of the "children of the revolution" - a reference to the hundreds of reformist figures detained during the unrest. | And he called for the release of the "children of the revolution" - a reference to the hundreds of reformist figures detained during the unrest. |
| 'Hostility' | 'Hostility' |
| In his statement, reported by Fars, army chief of staff Gen Firouzabadi accused some EU members of supporting the riots, and demonstrating their hostility to the Iranian people. | In his statement, reported by Fars, army chief of staff Gen Firouzabadi accused some EU members of supporting the riots, and demonstrating their hostility to the Iranian people. |
| The EU has yet to comment, but earlier urged Iran to avoid conflict with the international community. | The EU has yet to comment, but earlier urged Iran to avoid conflict with the international community. |
| Previously, Iran had aimed its allegations at Britain in particular and at the weekend detained the local employees of its embassy. Five were released on Monday, and a further three on Wednesday. | Previously, Iran had aimed its allegations at Britain in particular and at the weekend detained the local employees of its embassy. Five were released on Monday, and a further three on Wednesday. |
| Iran says it is enriching uranium for power plants, but some Western countries suspect it plans to build nuclear weapons. | Iran says it is enriching uranium for power plants, but some Western countries suspect it plans to build nuclear weapons. |
| Three EU countries - Britain, France and Germany - have led negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme, along with the United States, Russia and China. | Three EU countries - Britain, France and Germany - have led negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme, along with the United States, Russia and China. |
| 'Non-negotiable' | 'Non-negotiable' |
| At their last talks, they offered Iran a package of incentives if it would stop its nuclear activities. | At their last talks, they offered Iran a package of incentives if it would stop its nuclear activities. |
| But Iran insists that its right to enrich uranium is non-negotiable. | But Iran insists that its right to enrich uranium is non-negotiable. |
| In a separate development, officials in Tehran said President Ahmadinejad had cancelled his trip to an African Union summit in Libya. | In a separate development, officials in Tehran said President Ahmadinejad had cancelled his trip to an African Union summit in Libya. |
| Mr Ahmadinejad's office did not give any reason for the decision. | Mr Ahmadinejad's office did not give any reason for the decision. |