Iran protests alleged shooting by UK soldiers

Iran has sent a formal letter to the British Embassy in Teheran protesting an alleged incident in which British troops surrounded an Iranian consulate in Iraq and fired shots into the air, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported Sunday on its Web site. Britain has denied any aggressive action, saying the shooting was an exchange of gunfire after British troops on a foot patrol near the Iranian consulate were ambushed. In the note, Iran reportedly asked Britain to prevent such actions in the future and to respect international laws regarding diplomatic buildings, according to IRNA.