Region | Iran

British sailors to be freed

Iran will free 15 Britons captured on March 23 in what Tehran says was Iranian waters, according to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 00:00 April 4, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made the announcement at a press conference
  • Image Credit: AP
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Tehran: Iran will free 15 Britons captured on March 23 in what Tehran says was Iranian waters, according to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The president made the vow, less than 24 hours after the UK had played down hopes of a swift release, in a press conference in Tehran on Wednesday afternoon.

It is believed that the sailors will be flown out of Iran on Thursday morning.

He said that he was pardoning the sailors as a gift to Great Britain and gave medals of honour to the Iranain coast guards who arrested the Royal Navy personnel.

"On behalf of the great Iranian people, I want to thank the Iranian Coast Guard who courageously defended and captured those who violated their territorial waters," the president told a press conference.

He added: "We are sorry that British troops remain in Iraq and their sailors are being arrested in Iran."

Ahmadinejad also criticised Britain for deploying Leading Seaman Faye Turney, one of the 15 detainees.

"How can you justify seeing a mother away from her home, her children? Why don't they respect family values in the West?" he said.

After the press conference, Iranian state television showed the captured sailors meeting Ahmadinejad, with one of them saying : "We are grateful for your forgiveness."

The decision to free the sailors comes less than 24 hours after UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett played down the chances of a swift resolution to the crisis.

She said: "I would urge you to be cautious in assuming that we are likely to see a very swift resolution to this issue. We are not seeking confrontation."

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