US forces storm Iranian 'mission'

Washington/Baghdad: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Iran yesterday that the United States won't "stand idly by" if Tehran tries to disrupt Washington's renewed effort to stabilise Iraq. Speaking hours after US troops raided Iran's consulate in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil and arrested six employees, Rice said Washington was determined to crack down on Iran's "regional agression".

US military officials in Iraq confirmed that six people were arrested in the Arbil operation. But a Pentagon spokesman denied that the building raided by US forces was an Iranian consulate. He said the detainees were "suspected of being closely tied to activities targeting Iraq and coalition forces".