Britain's foreign secretary on Sunday described the detention of British Embassy employees in Iran as «harassment and intimidation,» calling it unacceptable, AP reported. David Miliband, who is on the Greek island of Corfu for a meeting of foreign ministers' from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said Britain has protested to the Iranian authorities about the detentions, which he said occurred Saturday. «This is harassment and intimidation of a kind which is quite unacceptable,» Miliband said. «These are hardworking diplomatic staff. The idea that the British Embassy is somehow behind the demonstrations and protests that have been taking place in Tehran. ... is wholly without foundation.» Iranian media reported Sunday that authorities had detained eight local employees of the British Embassy in Tehran for an alleged role in postelection protests, signaling a hardening of Iran's stance toward the West.
