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| Pressure mounts over held sailors | Pressure mounts over held sailors |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| International pressure is mounting on Iran to free 15 Royal Navy personnel, accused by Tehran of "blatant trespassing" into Iranian waters. | International pressure is mounting on Iran to free 15 Royal Navy personnel, accused by Tehran of "blatant trespassing" into Iranian waters. |
| The EU has called for the Britons - including one woman - to be released immediately. | The EU has called for the Britons - including one woman - to be released immediately. |
| The Foreign Office says they had been carrying out a routine patrol within Iraqi waters in the northern Gulf. | The Foreign Office says they had been carrying out a routine patrol within Iraqi waters in the northern Gulf. |
| The eight sailors and seven marines, from Plymouth-based HMS Cornwall, were held on Friday after boarding a boat. | The eight sailors and seven marines, from Plymouth-based HMS Cornwall, were held on Friday after boarding a boat. |
| HMS Cornwall's area of operations | HMS Cornwall's area of operations |
| The Cornwall is the flagship of the coalition-Iraqi force which patrols Iraqi territorial waters in the northern Gulf to combat smuggling. | The Cornwall is the flagship of the coalition-Iraqi force which patrols Iraqi territorial waters in the northern Gulf to combat smuggling. |
| The 15 had inspected an Iraqi boat before returning to their two small boats where they were seized. | The 15 had inspected an Iraqi boat before returning to their two small boats where they were seized. |
| They were taken at gunpoint by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard naval forces. | They were taken at gunpoint by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard naval forces. |
| They were then moved along the Shatt al-Arab waterway to Iranian bases, Royal Navy officials said. | They were then moved along the Shatt al-Arab waterway to Iranian bases, Royal Navy officials said. |
| HMS CORNWALL FACTS Multi-national force flagship in the northern Gulf Type 22 frigateCrew: 250 (Max 301)Length: 148.1m / 485.9ftSpeed: 30 knots Source: Royal Navy UN backs fresh sanctions | HMS CORNWALL FACTS Multi-national force flagship in the northern Gulf Type 22 frigateCrew: 250 (Max 301)Length: 148.1m / 485.9ftSpeed: 30 knots Source: Royal Navy UN backs fresh sanctions |
| Germany, which holds the EU presidency, has called for the immediate release of the Britons. | Germany, which holds the EU presidency, has called for the immediate release of the Britons. |
| "The presidency of the council of the European Union calls upon the Iranian government to immediately release the 15 British seamen detained yesterday," its statement on Saturday said. | "The presidency of the council of the European Union calls upon the Iranian government to immediately release the 15 British seamen detained yesterday," its statement on Saturday said. |
| Tehran claims the captured sailors have confessed to entering Iran illegally. But the British government insists they were in Iraqi waters and has demanded their immediate release. | Tehran claims the captured sailors have confessed to entering Iran illegally. But the British government insists they were in Iraqi waters and has demanded their immediate release. |
| Iranian armed forces spokesman Gen Ali Reza Afshar told Iranian media the 15 personnel were being interrogated, but were in good health. | Iranian armed forces spokesman Gen Ali Reza Afshar told Iranian media the 15 personnel were being interrogated, but were in good health. |
| Foreign Office junior minister Lord Triesman has met the Iranian ambassador Rasoul Movahedian to demand their immediate release. | Foreign Office junior minister Lord Triesman has met the Iranian ambassador Rasoul Movahedian to demand their immediate release. |
| Saturday's hour-long meeting was described as "frank and civil". | Saturday's hour-long meeting was described as "frank and civil". |
| Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has unanimously voted in favour of new sanctions against Iran for its refusal to suspend its nuclear enrichment programme. | Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has unanimously voted in favour of new sanctions against Iran for its refusal to suspend its nuclear enrichment programme. |
| The decision broadens the limited sanctions imposed in December 2006. | The decision broadens the limited sanctions imposed in December 2006. |
| The seizure of the boarding party carries echoes of an incident in June 2004 when a party of eight Marines and sailors were held for three days after being seized by the Iranians in the Shatt al-Arab waterway. | |
| On that occasion the hostages were paraded blindfolded on television, and later freed. | On that occasion the hostages were paraded blindfolded on television, and later freed. |
| Return to top | Return to top |