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Iran TV shows female navy captive Iran TV shows female navy captive
(30 minutes later)
Iranian state television has broadcast an interview with captured British female sailor Faye Turney and footage of 14 male captured colleagues. Iranian state television has broadcast an interview with captured British female sailor Faye Turney and footage of the 14 servicemen seized with her.
Leading Seaman Turney, 26, said they had been seized in the Gulf because "obviously we trespassed" in Iranian waters - something the UK disputes.Leading Seaman Turney, 26, said they had been seized in the Gulf because "obviously we trespassed" in Iranian waters - something the UK disputes.
She said her captors were "friendly", "thoughtful" people and she and her colleagues were unharmed. She said her captors had been friendly and the 15 personnel were unharmed.
The circumstances of the filming are not known. The Foreign Office said the footage was "completely unacceptable".
'Hospitable'
Earlier Iran said it would release Leading Seaman Turney "very soon".Earlier Iran said it would release Leading Seaman Turney "very soon".
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said she would be released on Wednesday or Thursday.Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said she would be released on Wednesday or Thursday.
Earlier the UK said it was suspending bilateral contacts with Iran amid the dispute over Friday's incident in the Gulf. The footage showed the eight Royal Navy sailors and seven Royal Marines, who were seized at gunpoint by Iranian Revolutionary Guards last Friday, in their uniforms sitting and eating a meal out of white trays.
Eight sailors and seven marines were taken at gunpoint by Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
They were seized after they had searched a merchant vessel.
'Issue under consideration'
Iran has insisted the group, based on HMS Cornwall, which has its home port in Plymouth, were in its waters when they were taken.
UK VERSION OF EVENTS 1 Crew boards merchant ship 1.7NM inside Iraqi waters2 HMS Cornwall was south-east of this, and inside Iraqi waters3 Iran tells UK that merchant ship was at a different point, still within Iraqi waters4 After UK points this out, Iran provides alternative position, now within Iranian waters UK version in more detailUK VERSION OF EVENTS 1 Crew boards merchant ship 1.7NM inside Iraqi waters2 HMS Cornwall was south-east of this, and inside Iraqi waters3 Iran tells UK that merchant ship was at a different point, still within Iraqi waters4 After UK points this out, Iran provides alternative position, now within Iranian waters UK version in more detail
Speaking on the sidelines of an Arab summit he was attending in Saudi Arabia Mr Mottaki said: "Today or tomorrow, the lady will be released." There was separate footage of Leading Seaman Turney - wearing a black headscarf - and speaking.
He later told reporters: "The issue is under consideration. I think it will be solved soon based on rules and regulations. I think I have informed you that the lady will be released very soon." She said: "I was arrested on Friday March 23. Obviously we trespassed into their waters.
His comments came shortly after Tony Blair said it was time to "ratchet up" pressure on Iran. "They were very friendly and very hospitable, very thoughtful, good people.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defence issued data it said proved the group had been 1.7 nautical miles inside Iraqi waters when they were seized. "They explained to us why we had been arrested. There was no aggression, no hurt, no harm. They were very, very compassionate."
The video showed footage of a letter, said to have been written by Leading Seaman Turney to her parents, in which she admitted that the nay personnel had "apparently" crossed into Iranian waters.
"I wish we hadn't because then I would be home with you right now," the letter said.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "It is completely unacceptable for these pictures to be on television."
"There is no doubt that our personnel were seized in Iraqi waters and were entitled to be there.
"We expect immediate consular access as a prelude to the release of all the personnel and the return of their equipment."
Greater pressure
Earlier on Wednesday the UK said it was suspending bilateral contacts with Iran amid the dispute over the personnel.
They were taken after searching a merchant vessel in the northern Gulf.
Iran has insisted the group, based on HMS Cornwall, which has its home port in Plymouth, were in its waters when they were taken.
Earlier Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was time for the UK to "ratchet up" pressure on Iran.
The Ministry of Defence issued data it said proved the navy group had been 1.7 nautical miles inside Iraqi waters when they were seized.
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-off
Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Charles Style, gave detailed co-ordinates which he said proved that.Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Charles Style, gave detailed co-ordinates which he said proved that.
The co-ordinates were 29 degrees 50.36 minutes north, 048 degrees 43.08 minutes east.The co-ordinates were 29 degrees 50.36 minutes north, 048 degrees 43.08 minutes east.
The MoD backed up its assertion by releasing a photograph of a handheld global positioning satellite device in HMS Cornwall's Lynx helicopter as it overflew the searched merchant vessel, confirming its position. The MoD also released a photograph of a handheld global positioning satellite device in HMS Cornwall's Lynx helicopter as it flew over the searched merchant vessel.
Vice Admiral Style said the sailors had been "ambushed" and their detention was "unjustified and wrong".Vice Admiral Style said the sailors had been "ambushed" and their detention was "unjustified and wrong".
The UK government said the Iranians initially said the merchant vessel had been at a point within Iraqi waters, before later providing a second, alternative position, within Iranian waters. The UK government said the Iranians had initially said the merchant vessel had been at a point within Iraqi waters, before later providing a second, alternative position, within Iranian waters.
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-off
Iran's embassy in London issued a statement in response to the UK data, in which it said the sailors and marines had been 0.5 km inside Iranian waters at the time they were seized.Iran's embassy in London issued a statement in response to the UK data, in which it said the sailors and marines had been 0.5 km inside Iranian waters at the time they were seized.
The statement, quoted by the official IRNA news agency, said "the governments of Iran and Britain have the ability to solve the incident through contacts and close co-operation".The statement, quoted by the official IRNA news agency, said "the governments of Iran and Britain have the ability to solve the incident through contacts and close co-operation".
The BBC has been told the group are being held at an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps base in Tehran.