Tehran, June 24, IRNA - A large group of relatives of Iranian pilgrims currently detained in Iraq gathered in front of the Iraqi embassy in Tehran Sunday, calling for their immediate release.

The demonstrators, a large number of whom were women, by chanting slogans, called for immediate release of their family members from Iraqi prisons.

According to reports, none of the Iraqi embassy officials or Iranian authorities were present at the gathering to talk to the demonstrators.

The demonstrators urged both the Iraqi and Iranian governments to make strides to help immediate release of the imprisoned Iranian nationals.

Police were present at the scene to prevent the demonstrators from reaching the Iraqi embassy.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini recently announced that 500 Iranian pilgrims who had entered the Iraqi territory illegally have been detained in Iraq.

... Payvand News - 6/24/07 ...