This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6501555.stm

The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
UK ready to produce Iran evidence Iran stand-off dangerous - Reid
(40 minutes later)
The government is preparing to release photographic evidence to support its assertion that 15 UK sailors seized by Iran were not in Iranian waters. The dispute over 15 Royal Navy personnel being held in Iran is becoming a "difficult" and "dangerous" situation, the UK home secretary says.
The BBC's Nick Robinson says the government is ready to switch from private to public diplomacy with Iran. John Reid told Sky News the issue was "delicate". Tony Blair has already hinted at taking a more aggressive diplomatic approach.
Tony Blair has talked of a "different phase" of the dispute and hinted at a more aggressive diplomatic approach. The UK is set to release photographs to back its assertion that the sailors and marines had not been in Iranian waters.
The sailors and marines from HMS Cornwall were captured on Friday after searching a boat in the northern Gulf. The personnel from HMS Cornwall were seized in the northern Gulf on Friday.
The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said preparations are in place for a news conference at the Ministry of Defence where photographs of the moments when the Britons were captured will be revealed. They were taken at gunpoint as they returned after searching a boat in the northern Gulf.
Iran says they were trespassing in Iranian waters, but the UK has insisted the group were in Iraqi waters under a UN mandate.
Preparations are in place for a news conference at the Ministry of Defence in London, where photographs of the moments when the Britons were captured will be revealed.
HMS Cornwall's area of operationsHMS Cornwall's area of operations
BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said the UK could confront Iran directly with satellite pictures and other evidence to show the personnel had not strayed into Iranian territorial waters. BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said the UK could confront Iran directly with satellite pictures and other evidence in an effort to prove the personnel had not strayed into Iranian territorial waters.
He said hardliners around Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad believe the Britons may be ideal pawns, either for concessions over Iran's nuclear programme or to trade for five Iranians being held by the US in Iraq.He said hardliners around Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad believe the Britons may be ideal pawns, either for concessions over Iran's nuclear programme or to trade for five Iranians being held by the US in Iraq.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has cut short a visit to Turkey to fly home and give a Commons statement on the crisis. Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has cut short a visit to Turkey to return to the UK where she will and give a statement on the crisis to MPs.
She decided to return to London after her phone call to the Iranian foreign minister on Tuesday made no progress. She decided to return after a phone call to the Iranian foreign minister on Tuesday made no progress.
Downing Street has said that up to now the UK has been attempting to talk "discreetly" to the Iranians to secure the release of the Royal Navy personnel.Downing Street has said that up to now the UK has been attempting to talk "discreetly" to the Iranians to secure the release of the Royal Navy personnel.
The prime minister's spokesman said that if the talks were unsuccessful, the government may have to become "more explicit" with Iran.The prime minister's spokesman said that if the talks were unsuccessful, the government may have to become "more explicit" with Iran.
HAVE YOUR SAY The country of Iran needs to have a good long hard look at how this situation will look to the rest of the world Gary, UK Send us your comments Iranian view on stand-offHAVE YOUR SAY The country of Iran needs to have a good long hard look at how this situation will look to the rest of the world Gary, UK Send us your comments Iranian view on stand-off
Salah Al Shaikhly, Iraq's ambassador to the UK, said his country would try to help the bid those seized and "the voice of reason should prevail". Salah Al Shaikhly, Iraq's ambassador to the UK, said his country would try to help the bid to secure the personnel's release and "the voice of reason should prevail".
BBC News has broadcast footage of an interview it carried out last week with Faye Turney, the only woman among the 15 who were capturedBBC News has broadcast footage of an interview it carried out last week with Faye Turney, the only woman among the 15 who were captured
It showed the married 26-year-old, who is shown with a photo of her three-year-old daughter very close at hand throughout the filming, on the Cornwall just hours before the incident. It showed the married 26-year-old, who had a photo of her three-year-old daughter very close at hand throughout the filming, on the Cornwall just hours before the incident.
Iran says the British personnel were trespassing in Iranian waters when they were seized - but the prime minister said the group were in Iraqi waters under a UN mandate.
Mr Blair has spoken of a "different phase" of the dispute, and he said there was absolutely no justification for holding the personnel.
Brigadier-General Hakim Jassim, commander of Iraq's territorial waters, has expressed surprise that British forces were operating in the area.
The BBC has been told the group are being held at an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps base in Tehran, where they are said to be being treated humanely.The BBC has been told the group are being held at an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps base in Tehran, where they are said to be being treated humanely.
The Foreign Office says it has been unable to confirm reports by Iran's official news agency Irna that Mohammad Ali Hosseini, spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, had said British diplomats would be given access to the group after the "primary investigation" by Iranian officials.The Foreign Office says it has been unable to confirm reports by Iran's official news agency Irna that Mohammad Ali Hosseini, spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, had said British diplomats would be given access to the group after the "primary investigation" by Iranian officials.
He was quoted by Irna as saying: "The media campaigns and provocative ... remarks regarding the violation of Iranian territorial waters by the British sailors are doing nothing to help settle the affair."He was quoted by Irna as saying: "The media campaigns and provocative ... remarks regarding the violation of Iranian territorial waters by the British sailors are doing nothing to help settle the affair."
Return to topReturn to top