WHILE many EU nations are reluctant to pull their ambassadors out of Teheran, they hope diplomatic pressure will secure the release of all British embassy employees.
One idea being circulated is to recall ambassadors for a few days as a sign of protest, according to one European source.
A two-day meeting of senior European foreign affairs officials opened in Stockholm on Thursday focused on the EU response to the events in Iran.
Despite vocal condemnation of the crackdown on peaceful protests, the Europeans like the US have adopted a measured approach towards Teheran, keen not to compromise talks on its controversial nuclear programme.
Iran has already accused the US and Europe of interfering in its internal affairs.
On Wednesday an Iranian military official, cited by a local news agency, said Europe had 'disqualified' itself from taking part in the nuclear talks.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country assumed the rotating EU presidency on Wednesday, called on his partners to display prudence.
Europe should avoid polarising Iran from the rest of the world and giving the regime an excuse to use force and repression against opposition supporters, he warned.
The question of how to handle Iran is set to dominate the summit of the Group of Eight leading industrialised nations in Italy next week. -- AFP