International treaties protect diplomats worldwide from being penalized for violating laws big and small, including parking tickets.

It is highly unusual for any government to waive the immunity law, which protects diplomats from possibly unfair prosecutions in unfriendly countries.

"But they were never meant," she said, "to protect diplomats from their own families."

The security people beam down to protect the civilians and diplomats until they can be brought out.

Administration officials, for example, reacted with incredulity to potential violations of international norms protecting diplomats.

But to protect diplomats from harassment the treaty forbids any country to force a diplomat to appear in court.

We hold the Iranian government responsible for its unacceptable failure to protect diplomats in line with international law.

The statute does not protect foreign visitors, diplomats, or Native Americans in the United States on reservations.

Diplomatic immunity generally protects diplomats from criminal and civil prosecutions in the countries where they serve.

The Americans say the fee is a tax, and add that the Vienna Convention protects diplomats from taxes abroad.