Iranian diplomat resigns post in protest

OSLO, Norway, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- An Iranian diplomat says he has quit as consul at the country's embassy in Norway to protest Tehran's crackdown against demonstrators.

The unnamed diplomat told the Norwegian broadcaster NRK Wednesday he stepped down to register disagreement with his government's use of violence and arrests against anti-government demonstrators last month.

The Iranian diplomat is reportedly still in Oslo and has yet to contact Norwegian authorities, although he said he is considering asking them for help.

"It was the Iranian authorities' treatment of demonstrators around Christmas which made me realize that my conscience would not allow me to continue in my job," he told NRK.

Rahman Saki, head of the Norwegian-Iranian support committee, said he feared for the consul's safety, as well as that of his family.

A spokesman for the Iranian Embassy told NRK reports of the diplomat's resignation were only "lies and unconfirmed rumors."