Talabani protests arrest of Iran envoys

Baghdad: Iraq's president yesterday protested the arrest by US forces of two Iranian envoys US officials say were seized during raids against Iranians suspected of planning attacks on Iraqi security forces.

Iran said the diplomats had been invited by the Iraqi government and warned the move would "provoke unpleasant repercussions," a news agency said.

"Two Iranian diplomats were detained by the US," said the media adviser for Jalal Talabani.

The US State Department said "a small number" of Iranian diplomats were detained but were later turned over to Iraqis and freed.