TV: Iran frees British embassy staffer on bail

TEHRAN, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Iran has released on bail head of the security and political division of the British embassy in Tehran Hossein Rassam, who was arrested due to involvement in Iran's post-election riots, local English-language Press TV reported on Sunday.

"A bail of 100 million tomans (100,000 dollars) has been paid for the release of Hossein Rassam," Rassam's lawyer Abdolsamad Khorramshahi was quoted as saying by Press TV.

On June 27, Rassam was arrested on charges of instigating the post-vote violence along with eight other embassy staffers who have since been released.

According to Press TV, Rassam reportedly played a key role in providing guidance to diplomats and reporters of the British media during the unrest that erupted after Iran's June 12 presidential election.

Iran has been accusing western countries, especially Britain, of provoking street protests and violence after Iran's disputed 10th presidential election.

On June 13, Iran's Interior Minister Sadeq Mahsouli said incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won 62.63 percent of the total ballots, while his main rival Mir-Hossein Mousavi got 33.75 percent.

After the official declaration, all the three defeated candidates filed complaints over irregularities in the election, while Mousavi and former Parliament Speaker Mehdi Karroubi have demanded an annulment of the election.

Mousavi's supporters have participated in massive rallies in Tehran and other cities over the following days.