Iranian diplomats leave Britain after protest violence

LONDON: Diplomats at the Iranian embassy in London left Britain on Friday after being expelled following the storming of the British embassy in Tehran, the Foreign Office said.

"I can confirm that, earlier this afternoon, all diplomatic staff of the Iranian embassy in London took off from Heathrow airport," said a spokesman.

"They are returning to Iran in line with the foreign secretary's statement to parliament on Wednesday."

Foreign Secretary William Hague had given Iran's diplomats 48 hours to close the embassy and leave the country after the attack on Britain's mission in Tehran on Tuesday.

Several European nations, including France, Germany and Italy, also recalled their ambassadors in a show of solidarity, and the European Union on Thursday declared it would take "appropriate measures" to hit back at what it saw as an attack on the EU as a whole.

Ahead of the diplomats' departure, the Iranian flag was still flying outside the embassy in an upmarket area of west London but a stream of people could be seen carrying suitcases and boxes out of the premises.

Britain has evacuated its diplomats from Iran and closed its embassy following Tuesday's attack by a mob shouting "Death to Britain", which Hague said could not have happened without the Iranian regime's tacit consent. (AFP)