Protesters try to storm Italian embassy in Tehran

Around 100 pro-government militia members tried to storm Italy's embassy in Tehran yesterday, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told a Senate hearing.

They shouted "Death to Italy, death to Berlusconi," Mr Frattini said, adding that police intervened to "prevent a veritable attack on the Italian embassy."

A ministry spokeswoman said that some protesters threw stones at the embassy.

The foreign minister said no "significant damage" was caused and that the embassy would remain open.

Mr Frattini said similar protests took place outside the French and Dutch missions in Tehran.

"Contacts are under way at the European level" to reach a consensus on sending a "signal of strong concern" over the incidents, he said.

Mr Frattini added that Italy had cancelled its attendance at ceremonies in Tehran on Friday marking the anniversary of the Iranian Revolution.

In Jerusalem last Wednesday, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi pledged Italy's firm support for Tehran's arch-foe Israel and urged "effective sanctions" against Iran.

The remarks prompted Iranian state television to assert that Mr Berlusconi was a servant of his "Israeli masters" and denounce "serious interference in internal (Iranian) affairs."

Asked as he left the Senate whether yesterday's protest was related, Mr Frattini replied that Iran's relations with Italy were not more "strained" than with other countries.

"Iran has complex and problematic relations with the whole international community," he said.