Norway Closes Iran Embassy As UK Attacked

AP - (OSLO, Norway and LONDON) — Nov. 30, 2011 - Norway has closed its embassy in Tehran due to security concerns after Britain's mission was stormed by Iranian protesters, an official said Wednesday.

Hilde Steinfeld, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman in Oslo, said the decision to close the embassy was taken late Tuesday, but that Norway's diplomatic staff have not been evacuated from the country. "They're still in Tehran," she said.

Steinfeld would not go into greater detail, but said "the decision follows security concerns." She added that "it is in context with the attack on the British embassy yesterday."

Norway has four to five diplomatic staff deployed in the Iranian capital, she said.

On Tuesday, protesters stormed the British embassy in what apparently began as a state-approved show of anger over the latest Western sanctions to punish Iran for defiance over its nuclear program.

The protesters took down the Union Jack, set fire to an embassy vehicle and pelted buildings with petrol bombs.

Britain says it is withdrawing some staff and dependents from its embassy in Tehran, which was stormed by Iranian protesters earlier this week.

The Foreign Office refused to say Wednesday how many people were being removed or give other details.

Following the Iranian demonstrators' actions Tuesday, the Foreign Office said that "ensuring the safety of our staff and their families is our immediate priority."

http://www.ncr-iran.org/en/news/iran-a-world/11481-norway-closes-iran-embassy-as-uk-attacked