Tehran, May 19: Demonstrators against "US and British crimes in Iraq" hurled petrol bombs today at the wall surrounding the British embassy in Tehran. A home-made grenade landed in the embassy garden and exploded, while Molotov Cocktails burst against cement blocks placed in front of the building, before security forces charged the protestors with clubs, according to an eyewitness. Several hundred young Islamists had gathered outside the embassy as some 100,000 people gathered in the vast Enghelab (revolution) Square at the call of the authorities to demonstrate against the profanation of Shiite holy sites in Iraq blamed on US-led coalition forces.
They also burned US and British flags and hurled them at the embassy, but were prevented by police from crossing the road to get nearer to the mission.
Some demonstrators and a number of photographers were arrested.
Bureau Report