News

Iran’s supreme leader yesterday branded Britain the ‘most evil and sinister’ of his country’s enemies. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the UK had been trying to stir up unrest during days of mass demonstrations over the disputed presidential elections. As a vast crowd chanted ‘Death to the UK’, the ayatollah said the protests had to stop. If they did not, he added, opposition leaders would be responsible for any bloodshed. He firmly endorsed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and slammed the door on any chance of a recount or fresh election. Within two hours of his unexpected attack on Britain, Tehran’s envoy to Lonitydon, Rasoul Movahedian, was summoned to the Foreign Office to explain.