British embassy attacked in Tehran protest

Petrol bombs have been thrown at the British embassy in the Iranian captial Tehran this morning as tens of thousands took protested…

Petrol bombs have been thrown at the British embassy in the Iranian captial Tehran this morning as tens of thousands took protested about the occupation of Iraq.

No-one was hurt by the petrol bombs which landed outside of the embassy compound, a British diplomat said. Several hundred protesters also threw stones at the embassy, breaking some windows in an administrative building.

Shia Muslim Iran has voiced growing opposition to the occupation of its western neighbour in recent days with senior government and religious figures incensed by the presence of US military forces in the holy cities of Najaf and Kerbala.

Chanting "Death to America! Death to Britain!", the crowd burned the US flag at Tehran's central Enqelab square.

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"We will not tolerate the occupation of Shia Iraqi holy sites," said an angry protestor who was burning an Uncle Sam effigy.

The demonstration was organised by a state body which plans and arranges most major rallies in the Islamic Republic. State radio said similar demonstrations were held in the cities of Isfahan, Qom and Mashhad.

As the main rally began to wind down, several hundred demonstrators gathered outside the British embassy, chanting slogans calling for it to be closed, witnesses said.

The embassy, which was well-guarded by police, typically bears the brunt of Iranian anger against US foreign policies due to the absence of a US embassy in Iran. Washington severed diplomatic ties with Iran in 1980.