Five of the nine local staff detained at the British embassy in the Iranian capital Tehran have been released.

The nine employees were detained on accusations of involvement in street protests that rocked the country after a disputed June 12 presidential election.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki spoke by phone on Sunday evening, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said.

"Out of nine people, five of them have been released and the rest are being interrogated," he said, adding that Mr Miliband had stressed in his conversation with Mr Mottaki that the UK's intention was not to interfere in Iran's internal affairs.

He added: "Mottaki said that if they really prove this in practice ... this can be considered as a positive step."

On Sunday, the British Foreign Secretary demanded the release of all the staff held and said his European Union colleagues had agreed to a "strong, collective response" to any such "harassment and intimidation" against EU missions.

© Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.