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Britain suspends boarding operations in Gulf

Britain has suspended boarding operations in the Gulf and is reviewing rules of engagement in the area's waters after Iran seized 15 British sailors and Marines, Navy Chief Jonathon Band said yesterday.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 00:00 April 7, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: AP
  • British military personnel freed by Iranian authorities speak at a news conference. From left: Royal Marine Joe Tindell, 21, Arthur Batchelor, 20, Royal Marine Captain Chris Air, 25, Lt Felix Carman, 26, and Royal Marine Adam Sperry, 22.

London: Britain has suspended boarding operations in the Gulf and is reviewing rules of engagement in the area's waters after Iran seized 15 British sailors and Marines, Navy Chief Jonathon Band said yesterday.

He said the 15, released in Tehran on Thursday and flown back to Britain for an emotional reunion with their families, were under psychological pressure when apparently confessing in letters and appearances on Iranian television.

He said Britain had halted boarding operations in the Gulf and was reviewing how they are handled in future amid disquiet over how easily the sailors were seized on March 23.

"As part of this ongoing review, the operational procedures and the rules of engagement that go with them will be reconsidered," he told BBC Radio.

The freed sailors yesterday told a press conference they were subjected to intense "psychological pressure" and threatened with prison terms during their two weeks in captivity.

However, Iran responded to charges by saying the press conference was "staged" to cover up the sailors' illegal entry into the state's territory.

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