Reuters: A semi-official Iranian news agency said on Wednesday that one of three local British embassy staff in detention had had a "remarkable role" in last month's post-election unrest in the Islamic Republic.
TEHRAN (Reuters) – A semi-official Iranian news agency said on Wednesday that one of three local British embassy staff in detention had had a "remarkable role" in last month's post-election unrest in the Islamic Republic.
Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that five Iranian staff from the British embassy in Tehran had been freed from detention while four were still being held for questioning.
The Fars report suggested that one more person had been freed, but Iran's English-language Press TV later on Wednesday said only one person remained in detention after three more were released.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband told Ireland's RTE radio on Wednesday he believed two staff were still being held.
Iranian officials were not immediately available for comment.
Fars said, without giving a source: "Among the three detained British embassy staff there was one who … had a remarkable role during the recent unrest in managing it behind the scenes."
It said another embassy employee had been a "main element behind the riots" but that she had been freed because she enjoyed diplomatic immunity.
The same news agency first revealed the detentions of the British embassy staff on Sunday, saying they were accused of stirring unrest after Iran's disputed June 12 election, which moderate opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad say was rigged in his favor.
Miliband has said London is pressing Iran's Foreign Ministry to help secure the release of the embassy employees.
(Writing by Fredrik Dahl; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
