UK withdraws diplomatic staff from Iran after attack

Britain is withdrawing its diplomats from Iran following the attack on its embassy in the capital, Tehran, on Tuesday, diplomatic sources say. A first group of embassy staff are reported to be flying out to Dubai. The Foreign Office has said that "some staff" are leaving "for their own safety", but has not confirmed if all its diplomats are being pulled out. Protesters ransacked the embassy and a UK residential compound in the capital, burning British flags and a car. The attack followed Britain's decision to impose further sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme. It led to Iran reducing diplomatic relations with the UK. British Prime Minister David Cameron has warned that the embassy attacks would have "serious consequences", while the US, EU and UN Security Council also condemned the attack.