Sailor confesses on Iranian TV

London: A member of the Royal Navy crew captured by Iran in the Gulf has confessed to entering Iranian waters illegally and apologised to the Iranian people, in a broadcast shown on state television on Friday.

Nathan Thomas Summers said, "We trespassed without permission. Since we have been arrested our treatment has been friendly. We have not been harmed at all."

He added, "I would like to apologise for entering your waters without any permission ... I deeply apologise. They have looked after us really well."

The statement came as Britain said it was considering a note from Tehran over the standoff, which began a week ago when Iran seized the sailors in the Gulf. Iran said they were in its waters, which Britain denies.

A source in British Prime Minister Tony Blair's office said of the crew being shown on TV, "The use of the hostages in this way is entirely wrong, cruel and has no place in proper international conduct."

The footage showed two men in camouflage and a woman in blue fatigues and a headscarf talking calmly and smiling in a room with a floral wallpaper background.