Thursday, January 11, 2007

US Forces Storm Iranian Consulate In Iraq

"US forces have stormed an Iranian consulate in the northern Iraqi town of Irbil and seized six members of staff. The troops raided the building at about 0300 (0001GMT), taking away computers and papers, according to Kurdish media and senior local officials."

BBC
The Australian
Al-Jazeera
Payvand (Iranian News)

I'd like to point out Article 31 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations:

Inviolability of the Consular Premises

"2.The authorities of the receiving State shall not enter that part of the consular premises which is used exclusively for the purpose of the work of the consular post except with the consent of the head of the consular post or of his designee or of the head of the diplomatic mission of the sending State. The consent of the head of the consular post may, however, be assumed in case of fire or other disaster requiring prompt protective action."

"4. The consular premises, their furnishings, the property of the consular post and its means of transport shall be immune from any form of requisition for purposes of national defence or public utility"

and Article 33:

Inviolability of the Consular Archives and Documents

The consular archives and documents shall be inviolable at all times and wherever they may be.
* * * * * * * *

Unless there is any solid evidence (not "we think") that Iran has violated the treaty also, via the following...

"1.Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of the State.
2.The consular premises shall not be used in any manner incompatible with the exercise of consular functions."

...we may have just broken international law again.

"A Pentagon spokesman denied that the building raided was an Iranian consulate."

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