Iran protesters storm UK embassy in Tehran
Protesters in the Iranian capital, Tehran, have broken into the UK embassy compound during an anti-British demonstration.
Militant students are said to have removed the British flag, burnt it and replaced it with Iran＇s flag. State TV showed youths smashing embassy windows.
The move comes after Iran resolved to reduce ties following the UK＇s decision to impose further sanctions on it.
The UK＇s Foreign Office said it was "outraged" by the actions.
It urged Iran to honour international commitments to protect diplomatic missions and their staff.
The students clashed with riot police and chanted "the embassy of Britain should be taken over" and "death to England", AP reports.
Students were reported to be ransacking offices inside the building, and one protester was said to be waving a framed picture of Queen Elizabeth II.
Iran＇s semi-official Mehr news agency said embassy documents had been set alight. Embassy staff fled by the back door, the agency added.
Pictures showed a car inside the compound on fire while outside the embassy＇s walls, several hundred other demonstrators were gathered.
Live TV footage showed Iranian riot police gradually clearing the protesters away from outside the embassy.
An unconfirmed report from the official Irna news agency said a separate group of protesters broke into another British embassy compound in the north of the city and seized "classified documents".
The UK Foreign Office condemned the attack and urged Iran to restore order.
"We are outraged by this. It is utterly unacceptable," the statement said.
"The Iranian government have a clear duty to protect diplomats and embassies in their country and we expect them to act urgently to bring the situation under control and ensure the safety of our staff and security of our property".
It was not clear how many embassy staff were in the building at the time. A Foreign Office source said it was checking on the well-being of workers and diplomats, AP reported.
Last week the US, UK and Canada announced new measures targeting Iran over its controversial nuclear plans.
For its part, the UK Treasury imposed sanctions on Iranian banks, accusing them of facilitating the country＇s nuclear programme
That decision followed a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that suggested Iran was working towards acquiring a nuclear weapon.
It said Iran had carried out tests "relevant to the development of a nuclear device".
Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only.
On Sunday, Iran＇s parliament voted by a large majority to downgrade diplomatic relations with the UK in response to the British action.
Iranian radio reported that some MPs had chanted "Death to Britain" during the vote, which was approved by 87% of MPs.
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