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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Sailor families await homecoming | Sailor families await homecoming |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Three sailors from Wales released with 12 colleagues from captivity in Iran are on their way back to the UK. | Three sailors from Wales released with 12 colleagues from captivity in Iran are on their way back to the UK. |
| Lieutenant Felix Carman, from Gower, Andrew Henderson, from Wrexham, and Corporal Dean Harris, from Carmarthen, were held for 13 days in Tehran. | Lieutenant Felix Carman, from Gower, Andrew Henderson, from Wrexham, and Corporal Dean Harris, from Carmarthen, were held for 13 days in Tehran. |
| The sailors and marines were accused of straying into Iranian waters, a claim denied by the UK government. | The sailors and marines were accused of straying into Iranian waters, a claim denied by the UK government. |
| But one Welsh father accused Tony Blair of "schoolboy diplomacy" in his handling of the captive crisis. | But one Welsh father accused Tony Blair of "schoolboy diplomacy" in his handling of the captive crisis. |
| The 14 servicemen and one woman left Tehran Airport at about 0800 local time (0530 BST) on a British Airways flight bound for Heathrow. | The 14 servicemen and one woman left Tehran Airport at about 0800 local time (0530 BST) on a British Airways flight bound for Heathrow. |
| They are expected to arrive back in the UK Thursday lunchtime. | They are expected to arrive back in the UK Thursday lunchtime. |
| Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday the 15 captured British naval personnel captured in the Gulf were free to leave. | Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday the 15 captured British naval personnel captured in the Gulf were free to leave. |
| It's just great news, just overwhelming news Richard Pye, Andrew Henderson's cousin class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6528235.stm">Sailors on their way home | |
| He repeated Iran's view that the British sailors and marines "invaded" Iranian waters, but said they were being released as a "gift" to Britain. | He repeated Iran's view that the British sailors and marines "invaded" Iranian waters, but said they were being released as a "gift" to Britain. |
| Several of the crew spoke on Iranian state TV before they left, expressing their gratitude. Among them Lt Felix Carman said that he understood why the Iranian people were "insulted by our apparent intrusion into your waters". | Several of the crew spoke on Iranian state TV before they left, expressing their gratitude. Among them Lt Felix Carman said that he understood why the Iranian people were "insulted by our apparent intrusion into your waters". |
| The families of the three Welsh servicemen - Lt Carman, 26, Operator Maintainer Henderson, 24, and Corp Harris, 24 - described their feelings of "relief" and "ecstasy" following news they were being released. | The families of the three Welsh servicemen - Lt Carman, 26, Operator Maintainer Henderson, 24, and Corp Harris, 24 - described their feelings of "relief" and "ecstasy" following news they were being released. |
| The sailors were held for 13 days | The sailors were held for 13 days |
| Lt Carman's mother, Alison, said: "I just fell to the floor and I think Paul burst into tears - it was so totally unexpected. | Lt Carman's mother, Alison, said: "I just fell to the floor and I think Paul burst into tears - it was so totally unexpected. |
| "We're both so proud. He's such a lovely guy. We're just delighted. We can't wait to hug him and kiss him, and keep him safe with us." | "We're both so proud. He's such a lovely guy. We're just delighted. We can't wait to hug him and kiss him, and keep him safe with us." |
| But her husband Paul also strongly criticised Tony Blair's handling of the crisis. | But her husband Paul also strongly criticised Tony Blair's handling of the crisis. |
| "I have been very disappointed and in some cases extremely angered by what I regard as risible attempts at bravado, absolutely ridiculous school boy diplomacy on the part of him and our esteemed foreign secretary," Mr Carman, from Port Eynon, said after learning his son had been freed on Thursday. | "I have been very disappointed and in some cases extremely angered by what I regard as risible attempts at bravado, absolutely ridiculous school boy diplomacy on the part of him and our esteemed foreign secretary," Mr Carman, from Port Eynon, said after learning his son had been freed on Thursday. |
| The family of Corp Harris, from Trevaughan near Carmarthen, released a statement saying : "This is an overwhelming relief to us that they have agreed to free Dean and the rest of them. | The family of Corp Harris, from Trevaughan near Carmarthen, released a statement saying : "This is an overwhelming relief to us that they have agreed to free Dean and the rest of them. |
| 'Overwhelming' | 'Overwhelming' |
| "But until we can see he is out of there, either on a plane or somewhere safe, we cannot raise our hopes." | "But until we can see he is out of there, either on a plane or somewhere safe, we cannot raise our hopes." |
| Corp Harris' best friend Gareth Owens, who is planning for a pint or two with Corporal Harris' other friend, said they cannot wait to see him again. | Corp Harris' best friend Gareth Owens, who is planning for a pint or two with Corporal Harris' other friend, said they cannot wait to see him again. |
| The family of Andrew Henderson, 24, from Coedpoeth, near Wrexham, said his parents, Ted and Diane, were travelling to Heathrow to greet their son and were "absolutely over the moon". | The family of Andrew Henderson, 24, from Coedpoeth, near Wrexham, said his parents, Ted and Diane, were travelling to Heathrow to greet their son and were "absolutely over the moon". |
| Richard Pye, the serviceman's cousin, said: "My grandparents, it's been very, very hard for them, they're not youngsters any more and I think it's taken its toll but they're ecstatic, absolutely ecstatic. | Richard Pye, the serviceman's cousin, said: "My grandparents, it's been very, very hard for them, they're not youngsters any more and I think it's taken its toll but they're ecstatic, absolutely ecstatic. |
| "It's just great news, just overwhelming news." | "It's just great news, just overwhelming news." |