 | | | Rights activists say 2,000 people are being held in Iran following the disputed elections |
TEHRAN/LONDON (Agencies) Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Western countries on Monday against interfering in Iranian affairs as the United Kingdom confirmed that the Islamic Republic had released an eighth British embassy staff member, leaving one still in detention.
Khameini admitted there are "differences" among Iranians following last month's disputed presidential election but told the West it would be met with a "firm fist" if it tried to exploit the unrest sparked by the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "We strongly warn leaders of some Western countries not to interfere in Iran's internal matters, beware! The Iranian nation will react," Khameini said in a televised speech in Tehran.
"The leaders of arrogant countries, the nosy meddlers in the affairs of the Islamic republic, must know that no matter if the Iranian people have their own differences, when you enemies get involved, the people... will become a firm fist against you."
Khamenei, who praised President Ahmadinejad's victory even before an official review endorsed the result, said the vote was an internal Iranian issue. |
" We strongly warn leaders of some Western countries not to interfere in Iran's internal matters, beware! The Iranian nation will react " Ayatollah Khameini "The election was a major move ... The enemies want to create dispute among Iranians. What does it have to do with the enemies?" he asked.
Last month's election, which defeated candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi accuses the government of rigging, led to the most widespread street protests in Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Authorities say more than 1,000 people were arrested during the demonstrations, although most have been released. But human rights activists say 2,000 people, including opposition leaders, academics, journalists and students, may be still held. |  | British staff " It remains our top priority to get all of our embassy staff released as soon as possible " Foreign Office spokeswoman Meanwhile Britain said Tehran had freed one of its last two embassy employees detained after the election, leaving just one still in custody who is accused of instigating street protests.
"We are able to confirm that one of our staff remains in detention," a Foreign Office spokeswoman said.
"It remains our top priority to get all of our embassy staff released as soon as possible," she said. "We are continuing intensive discussions with the Iranian authorities and our international partners to resolve this."
European Union countries summoned Iranian ambassadors on Friday to protest at the detention of the British embassy staff and warned they would take tougher steps if they were not freed. | | Sarkozy vows to support UK French President Sarkozy and British PM Brown hold a press conference French President Nicolas Sarkozy, speaking shortly after Khamenei, said Iranians deserved better leadership and pledged to support Britain in its standoff with Tehran.
"Really, the Iranian people deserve better than the leaders they have today," he said at a news conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, pledging France's full support for Britain in the dispute over the embassy detentions.
"We are totally in solidarity with our British friends vis-a-vis the Iranian leadership. They can count on our total solidarity," Sarkozy said.
"We were particularly shocked by attacks on the British government that were very unjust, out of proportion." |
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