THE IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY HAS LODGED AN OFFICIAL PROTEST MEMORANDUM TO THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN TEHRAN FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT OF SHOOTING AT THE IRANIAN CONSULATE IN THE IRAQI CITY OF BASRA BY THE BRITISH FORCES STATIONING THERE. THE BRITISH FORCES IN BASRA CORDONED THE IRANIAN CONSULATE LAST TUESDAY AND SHOT FIRE AT IT FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. IRAN IN ITS PROTEST MEMORANDUM DEMANDED BRITAIN TO AVOID RECURRENCE OF SUCH PRACTICES, AND RESPECT THE INTERNATIONAL LAWS PERTAINING TO THE DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS. THE IRANIAN NEWS AGENCY REPORTED THAT THE IRANIAN DIPLOMATIC MISSION IN NEW YORK WILL PUBLISH THE TEXT OF THE PROTEST MEMORANDUM AS A DOCUMENT AT THE UN.