Iran rules out downgrading ties with Britain

Tehran: Iran has began recounting some of the votes cast in its disputed presidential election and the government dismissed the idea of downgrading relations with Britain.

The Guardian Council, Iran's top electoral oversight body, said it planned to complete the recount of a random 10 percent of ballots by the end of the day.

Spokesman Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei said the recount was aimed at gaining "the confidence of the respectable supporters of candidates."

The regime's standoff with the West over its crackdown on demonstrators sharply escalated on Sunday.

Britain denounced the detention of nine local employees of its embassy in Tehran, and the European Union condemned what it called Iranian "harassment and intimidation."