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British sailors on their way home British sailors on their way home
(about 2 hours later)
The 15 Royal Navy crew held captive by Iran are flying home after being freed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a "gift" to the UK. The 15 Royal Navy crew members held captive by Iran are flying home after being freed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a "gift" to the UK.
They left Tehran Airport at about 0800 local time (0530 BST) on a British Airways flight bound for Heathrow.They left Tehran Airport at about 0800 local time (0530 BST) on a British Airways flight bound for Heathrow.
Before leaving, several of the crew spoke on Iranian television to express thanks for their release.Before leaving, several of the crew spoke on Iranian television to express thanks for their release.
Prime Minister Tony Blair said the homecoming would be "a profound relief" to the personnel and their families.Prime Minister Tony Blair said the homecoming would be "a profound relief" to the personnel and their families.
The crewmen arrived at the airport in a fleet of official cars, after 13 days in Iranian custody. 'Apparent intrusion'
The father of one of the captives, Robin Air, said his son Chris and his colleagues were expected to arrive back in the UK around midday. The navy personnel arrived at the airport in a fleet of official cars, after 13 days in Iranian custody. They are expected to arrive back in the UK at about midday.
Earlier, another crewman, Lt Felix Carman, told Iranian television: "To the Iranian people, I can understand why you were insulted by our apparent intrusion into your waters.
HAVE YOUR SAY Of course diplomacy worked, it was a diplomatic incident Colin Campbell, Stockholm, Sweden Send us your comments Families' joy and reliefHAVE YOUR SAY Of course diplomacy worked, it was a diplomatic incident Colin Campbell, Stockholm, Sweden Send us your comments Families' joy and relief
Before leaving, one of the 15, Lt Felix Carman, told Iranian television: "To the Iranian people, I can understand why you were insulted by our apparent intrusion into your waters.
"I'd like to say that no harm was meant to Iranian people or its territories whatsoever, and that I hope that this experience will help to build the relationship between our countries.""I'd like to say that no harm was meant to Iranian people or its territories whatsoever, and that I hope that this experience will help to build the relationship between our countries."
The only woman in the group, Leading Seaman Faye Turney, said: "Apologies for our actions, but many thanks for having it in your hearts to let us go free."The only woman in the group, Leading Seaman Faye Turney, said: "Apologies for our actions, but many thanks for having it in your hearts to let us go free."
Both said they had been well treated by their captors.Both said they had been well treated by their captors.
Speaking at a news conference, Mr Ahmadinejad repeated Iran's view that the crew had "invaded" Iranian waters, but said they were being freed as a "gift" to Britain. 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 class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6496559.stm">Dividing lines of Shatt al-Arab
So you came on a mandatory vacation? Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to the navy personnel Ahmadinejad excerpts Ending it with a flourish US welcomes release
"I'm asking Mr Blair to not put these 15 personnel on trial because they admitted they came to Iranian territorial water," he added, referring to taped "confessions" made by the British sailors and marines.
Britain says the crew were in Iraqi waters under a UN mandate when they were captured and says the confessions were extracted under duress.
Mr Ahmadinejad said no concessions had been made by the British government to secure the releases, but that Britain had pledged "that the incident would not be repeated".Mr Ahmadinejad said no concessions had been made by the British government to secure the releases, but that Britain had pledged "that the incident would not be repeated".
Later, television pictures showed the president smiling, chatting and shaking hands with the crew at his palace in Tehran.
An unidentified crew member said: "I'd like to say that myself and my whole team are very grateful for your forgiveness. I'd like to thank yourself and the Iranian people... Thank you very much, sir."
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 Both versions in more detail Dividing lines of Shatt al-Arab
Prime Minister Tony Blair said Britain's approach to the crisis had been "firm but calm - not negotiating but not confronting either".Prime Minister Tony Blair said Britain's approach to the crisis had been "firm but calm - not negotiating but not confronting either".
He did not thank or address the Iranian president, but said to the Iranian people: "We bear you no ill will. On the contrary, we respect Iran as an ancient civilisation, as a nation with a proud and dignified history." Speaking at a news conference, Mr Ahmadinejad repeated Iran's view that the crew had "invaded" Iranian waters but said they were being freed as a "gift" to Britain.
However, Paul Carman, the father of Lt Carman, criticised Tony Blair's handling of the hostage crisis saying: "I've been very disappointed and in some cases extremely angered by what I regard as risible attempts at bravado, absolutely ridiculous school boy diplomacy." IRANIAN VERSION OF EVENTS 1 Royal Navy crew stray 0.5km inside Iranian waters 2 Iran gives set of co-ordinates to back up their claims 3 According to seized GPS equipment, the Royal Navy crew had previously entered Iranian waters at several other points 4 Iran informs Britain of the position where the crew were seized, inside Iranian waters class="" href="/1/hi/world/6502805.stm">Both versions in more detail
IRANIAN VERSION OF EVENTS 1 Royal Navy crew stray 0.5km inside Iranian waters 2 Iran gives set of co-ordinates to back up their claims 3 According to seized GPS equipment, the Royal Navy crew had previously entered Iranian waters at several other points 4 Iran informs Britain of the position where the crew were seized, inside Iranian waters Britain says the crew were in Iraqi waters under a UN mandate when they were captured, and says the confessions were extracted under duress.
But the BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran said speculation was likely to continue over whether the release had anything to do with developments in Iraq. Former British ambassador to Iran Sir Richard Dalton said Iran's reputation had been harmed by the episode.
"I think Iran's reputation has deteriorated where it counts, in many capitals, including the capitals of countries which are close to it who have joined in the effort to get these captives released," he said.
"The action which the Iranian government has taken gives them a blaze of favourable publicity which is going to be short-lived, and it's not going to alter the difficulty of addressing these major issues, like the nuclear question, and is not going to give Iran any leverage in them."
Nuclear ambitions
However, former US ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said President Ahmadinejad was the clear winner and had been strengthened in his pursuit of nuclear weapons.
"President Ahmadinejad comes out of this as a winner on two counts," he said.
CAPTURED NAVY PERSONNEL Chris AirMark Banks, 24, of Lowestoft, SuffolkPaul Barton, of Southport, MerseysideArthur Batchelor, 20, of PlymouthFelix Carman, 26, of SwanseaChristopher Coe, 31, of HuddersfieldDean Harris, 24, of Carmarthen, west WalesAndrew HendersonSimon MasseyDanny Masterton, 26, of Muirkirk, AyrshireAdam Sperry, 22, of Wigston, near LeicesterNathan Summers, of Hayle, CornwallJoe Tindell, 21, of south LondonFaye Turney, 26, originally from ShropshireOne captive remains unnamed Profiles of navy personnel
"He won by seizing British hostages and he won by unilaterally deciding to release them, having found out the answer to the question I think he was posing, which is - how strong a response will Britain make to this act of taking captive these 15 service members?
"The reaction was - not much at all. I think Ahmadinejad is actually emboldened in his pursuit of nuclear weapons, and I think that means more trouble ahead for all of us."
And the father of one of the crew members criticised Tony Blair's handling of the crisis.
Paul Carman, the father of Lt Carman, said: "I've been very disappointed and in some cases extremely angered by what I regard as risible attempts at bravado, absolutely ridiculous schoolboy diplomacy."
The BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran said speculation was likely to continue over whether the release had anything to do with developments in Iraq.
There, an Iranian envoy has reportedly been given access to five Iranians captured by US forces and a kidnapped diplomat was released on Tuesday.There, an Iranian envoy has reportedly been given access to five Iranians captured by US forces and a kidnapped diplomat was released on Tuesday.