Iran protesters breach British Embassy

TEHRAN, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- British authorities say everyone at the country's embassy in Tehran is safe after hundreds of Iranian radicals stormed and briefly entered the compound.

The British Foreign Office said the "security breach" was contained quickly by Iranian police after hard-line Iranian students, who often stage noisy protests outside the British Embassy in Tehran, breached diplomatic territory and entered the compound Tuesday night, The Times of London reported.

Protesting the Israeli military assault on Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, hundreds of Iranian radicals stormed the compound, replacing the British flag with a Palestinian one, witnesses said.

British officials said it was the first time in decades Iranian protesters have breached diplomatic territory.

The Times said a hard-line Iranian news agency has indicated the protests against Britain and Egypt, whose embassy was also targeted Tuesday, would continue.