Egypt condemns burning of Saudi embassy, consulate in Iran

Spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry Ahmed Abu Zeid condemned on Sunday the burning of the Saudi Embassy and Consulate in Iran.

In press statements, Abu Zeid called for protecting all diplomatic missions and headquarters as outlined by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Iran's president Hassan Rouhani denounced attacks on the Saudi embassy and consulate as "totally unjustifiable" after protesters stormed the compounds.

"The actions last night by a group of radicals in Tehran and Mashhad leading to damage at the Saudi embassy and consulate are totally unjustifiable, as the buildings should be legally and religiously protected in the Islamic Republic of Iran," Hassan Rouhani said, quoted by the official IRNA news agency.

At least 44 people were arrested late Saturday for storming the diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad after Saudi Arabia announced it had executed prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr and 46 other men on "terrorism" charges.

Source: MENA