Iranian politicians call for UK ambassador recall

Ambassador Simon Gass had highlighted concerns about the risks posed to journalists, lawyers and activists in Iran in a statement on his website.

The lawmakers also called for ties between Iran and the UK to be downgraded.

They said Mr Gass' actions had breached diplomatic protocol.

"Gass is a clear example of a persona non grata that must be expelled from Iran," the semi-official Fars news agency quoted hardline lawmaker Hossein Sobhaninia as saying on Sunday.

Conservative politicians also accused Britain of hypocrisy, with one politician saying that what he called the violent suppression of university students in Britain last week proved that the UK cannot even tolerate its own opponents; Kazinform cites BBC News.

See www.bbc.co.uk for full version.