Protesters attack foreign embassies in Tehran
Demonstrators hurl stones, shout 'Death to Berlusconi'; Protests also at French, Dutch embassies.
By The Associated Press Tags: Iran election 2009 Israel newsAbout 100 Iranians protested Tuesday in front of the Italian embassy in Tehran, shouting Death to Italy, Death to Berlusconi, Italy's foreign minister said. Protests were also held outside the French and Dutch embassies.
The protests came a week after Premier Silvio Berlusconi announced - in Israel - that Italy was scaling back its economic dealings with Iran and wanted tighter sanctions against the Tehran leadership. Italy has long been Tehran's biggest trading partner in the EU.
Television footage of the protests shown on Sky TG 24 showed protesters throwing stones and eggs at the Italian embassy. Foreign Ministry officials said none of the protesters managed to get inside and that police intervened.
Frattini told the Senate that the protest was hostile and that the group tried to assault the building.
The Italian news agency ANSA, citing unidentified sources, reported Tuesday that the Iranian Foreign Ministry had summoned the Italian ambassador to protest Berlusconi's remarks in Israel.
Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency reported that a group of university students had gathered in the afternoon at the gates of the French and Italian embassies, which are next to each other in downtown Tehran.
The students hurled eggs and tomatoes at both buildings and denounced what they said was Italian and French support for Iran's opposition movement, the report said.
The protesters demanded Iran scale back its relations with both countries and they shouted the word takeover in a reference to the 1979 student takeover of the U.S. Embassy.
Police stopped several students from removing a street sign on the wall of the Italian Embassy that says Rome Street.
Frattini said there were no immediate plans to close the embassy and that any such decision would be made jointly with other EU countries. He said they would also discuss their level of participation during the annual celebration Thursday of the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
Contacts are now under way to reach a joint position, he said.
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What B.S. - These are as much students as Ayatula kakameimi is Ghandi.
Ahmadinejad leading his people like Hizbula, to make protests and violance against symbols of west, tsc tsc, typical of dictators.
Israel is Mini Iran now! An Education Ministry decision to bar a Kfar Sava school from teaching sexually explicit poetry by Israeli writer Yona Wallach shows that Israel is becoming a mini-Iran, Israeli author Yoram Kaniuk Said
Between Stockholm and Tehran, Israel of today is much closer to Tehran. From birth to death, from circumcision to funeral, from the establishment of the state to the establishment of the last of the illegal settlements and outposts in the West Bank - Israel is operating in the shadow of the commandments of religion. Israelis should be honest with themselves and admit it already: The country is too religious and its going to be like Saudi Arabia
They hurled eggs and tomatoes in the wrong direction. When will this mob understand who is their real enemy? I suppose they don't belong to the Iranian inteligentsia!
RELIGOUS EXTREMISM isn't ONLY A MUSLIM or CHRISTIAN PROBLEM but yes it is A JEWISH TRUE PROBLEM. at the end of the day ISRAEL has its own EXTREMISTS too
But rather a lost politician. He might be a good business man, but politically, he is a fool and unknowledgeable. While Italy is fighting against the economical crises and unemployment, he creates more enemies than friends all over the World, resulting in more unemployment and economical turndown. Iran is not an exception. When hearing his remarks against Iran, one thinks he was paid for. He is a money maker and he does not care where the money comes from. If the Israelis believe his words of love and alliance, they are mistaken. He should have devoted his career for a film clown than a politician.
If the Iranians are mad at the remarks of Berlusconi that he would love if Israel should join the EU. Then I have to say that I agree with him. As critical as I am of Israel, I think if Israel joins the EU then Israel will start having more human rights and Arabs would be treated as equals instead of inferior. I wish Israel would join the EU and not only Israel but Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Jordan too, if that happens I think there can be peace.
Where are all those talkbackers who thought it was undiplomatic when the Turkish Ambassador sat on a low sofa? Is this the kind of diplomacy they prefer? Israel will never descend to that kind of childish level.
It is quite possible that the Iranian regime;s days are numbered, and that this demonstration, along with the nucleear-linked announcements, are the regom'es way of mustering support. Well,let's see whay happens on Iranian Revolution Day, coming up.
Basij is the milita of the government! isnt this an act of war to attack foreign countries embassy by government backed milita??
unfortunately just another day in the Islamic republic... with unemployment at 20% and the govt needing to subsidize gasoline why WOULDNT you spend your time protesting...