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US 'seizes Iranian group in Iraq' Iran to protest over 'US arrests'
(about 1 hour later)
Seven Iranians working for the Iranian Electricity Ministry have been arrested by US forces in Baghdad, the Iranian embassy says. Iran says it will make a formal protest to Iraq on Wednesday over the arrest and detention of seven of its nationals by US troops in Baghdad.
A spokesman told the BBC the embassy had contacted the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and would send a formal protest letter in the morning. The men were seized from one of the city's main hotels and led away blindfolded and in handcuffs.
He said the Iranians were in Baghdad in connection with the building of a power station. The Iranian embassy in Baghdad says the men were experts helping to rebuild electricity power stations in Iraq.
The group were detained at the Sheraton Hotel where they were staying. The US military declined to comment, saying that the action was part of an operation that had not been completed.
Video footage showed soldiers leading a group of men, blindfolded and handcuffed, out of the hotel in central Baghdad. The group was detained at the Sheraton Ishtar Hotel. Video footage showed soldiers leading the men out of the building.
Other soldiers were seen leaving the hotel carrying what appeared to be luggage and a laptop computer bag. Other soldiers were seen carrying what appeared to be luggage and a laptop computer bag.
The arrests come shortly after a speech by US President George W Bush in which he criticised Iranian interference in Iraq. 'Murderous activities'
Tension between the US and Iran is running high - with the US accusing Iran of providing arms, money and military training to Shia insurgents in Iraq. The arrests came shortly after a speech by US President George W Bush in which he criticised Iranian interference in Iraq.
President Bush specifically stated that he had authorised his military commanders in Iraq to confront what he called "Iran's murderous activities" in the country. President Bush was making his second major speech in a weekTension between the US and Iran is running high - with the US accusing Iran of providing arms, money and military training to Shia insurgents in Iraq.
Earlier the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said that American power in Iraq was on the verge of collapse and this would lead to a huge vacuum which Iran would be willing to fill. President Bush stated that he had authorised his military commanders in Iraq to confront what he called Iran's "murderous activities" in the country.
He also said the entire region would be under the shadow of a "nuclear holocaust" if Iran developed nuclear weapons. Tehran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful.
Earlier, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that US power in Iraq was on the verge of collapse and this would lead to "a huge vacuum" which Iran would be willing to fill.
In January, five Iranians - who the US say are linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard and were training militants in Iraq - were captured in the northern city of Irbil.In January, five Iranians - who the US say are linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard and were training militants in Iraq - were captured in the northern city of Irbil.
The five remain in US custody.The five remain in US custody.