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Navy chief defends captured crew Navy chief defends captured crew
(about 1 hour later)
The Royal Navy's head has defended the actions of 15 British personnel seized by Iran and UK operations in the Gulf.The Royal Navy's head has defended the actions of 15 British personnel seized by Iran and UK operations in the Gulf.
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band said the crew "reacted extremely well in very difficult circumstances".First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band said the crew "reacted extremely well in very difficult circumstances".
Admiral Band also said British boarding operations being carried out in the Gulf had been sanctioned by the UN. Admiral Band also said British boarding operations being carried out in the Gulf had been "absolutely proper", but there would be a "complete review".
He was reacting to criticism that the crew, freed on Thursday after being held for 13 days, gave up too easily and co-operated too fully. He was reacting to criticism that the crew, freed on Thursday after being held for 13 days, gave up too easily.
The captured personnel appeared on Iranian television admitting they had strayed into Iran's territorial waters, a claim the UK denies.The captured personnel appeared on Iranian television admitting they had strayed into Iran's territorial waters, a claim the UK denies.
Lt Gen Sir Michael Gray, former commander of the 1st Battalion of the Paras, described the situation as a "shambles". Lt Gen Sir Michael Gray, former commander of the 1st Battalion of the Paras, was quoted in the Daily Mail as describing the situation as a "shambles".
Amyas Godfrey, an associate fellow of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), felt the personnel could have stood up to their captors more. They acted with considerable dignity and a lot of courage First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band
"All we saw is shots of them eating and having a laugh. When thanking the president they were all like very polite English schoolboys," he said. And Amyas Godfrey, an associate fellow of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), previously said the personnel could have stood up to their captors more.
'Extraordinary act'
Admiral Band told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "This incident was a most extraordinary act conducted in those waters.
"I think our people have reacted extremely well in very difficult circumstances."
He added: "The boarding operations taking place that morning in the northern Gulf were sanctioned by the United Nations under specific resolutions.
The crew were stationed aboard HMS Cornwall
"They were being conducted under operational procedures with the coalition of US, UK and Australian forces."
Admiral Band said UK boarding operations had stopped for the time being but coalition operations were continuing under British command.
The admiral said the Iranians were not considered to be "the enemy", and there was no question of them having been spied on.
Some of the 15 personnel will speak at a press conference later.Some of the 15 personnel will speak at a press conference later.
The MoD said the UK would continue to ask Iran to return its two captured boats used by the 15 sailors and marines, but he held out little hope of success. Admiral Band told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "This incident was a most extraordinary act conducted in those waters...
The freed personnel were helicoptered to the Royal Marine base at Chivenor in north Devon on Thursday, after arriving at Heathrow. "I think they acted with considerable dignity and a lot of courage.
CAPTURED NAVY PERSONNEL Chris Air, 25, from Altrincham in CheshireMark Banks, 24, of Lowestoft, SuffolkPaul Barton, of Southport, MerseysideArthur Batchelor, 20, of PlymouthFelix Carman, 26, of SwanseaGavin CavendishChristopher 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 Shropshire class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6518203.stm">Profiles of navy personnel class="" href="/1/hi/world/6502805.stm">Two versions of events "They appear to have played it by the rules, they don't appear to have put themselves into danger, others into danger, they don't appear to have given anything away".
HAVE YOUR SAY The UK government and its forces have been made to look like total fools Bob, Dundee Send us your comments
The navy has, however, begun a review of the circumstances leading to the capture.
Admiral Band said: "Clearly, whenever things go wrong - and certainly this is not an incident we at all wanted - we will review everything that we normally do.
"Was the intelligence correct? We will look at the equipment, we will look at the procedures, we will look at all the things that happened. We certainly wouldn't want this to happen again."
'No deal'
Admiral Band said the review would also examine the rules of engagement for UK forces operating in the area.
The crew were stationed aboard HMS CornwallHowever, he said the decision to board and search the merchant ship that led to the seizure of the navy personnel had been "absolutely proper".
"We operate in a coalition, under operating procedures which are set to the conditions at the time of the event.
"As far as I'm aware they were conducted entirely correctly, the procedures were correct for the situation on the ground as the commander saw it."
He said UK boarding operations had stopped for now, but coalition operations were continuing under British command.
He added the Iranians were not considered to be "the enemy", and there was no question of them having been spied on.
'Solitary confinement'
Earlier, an MoD spokesman said the UK would continue to ask Iran to return its two captured boats used by the 15 sailors and marines, but he held out little hope of success.
The freed personnel were flown to the Royal Marine base at Chivenor, in north Devon, on Thursday, after arriving at Heathrow.
CAPTURED NAVY PERSONNEL Chris Air, 25, from Altrincham in CheshireMark Banks, 24, of Lowestoft, SuffolkPaul Barton, of Southport, MerseysideArthur Batchelor, 20, of PlymouthFelix Carman, 26, of SwanseaGavin CavendishChristopher 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 Shropshire Profiles of navy personnel
Several said they had been well-treated in Iran, but there have been suggestions some may have been held in solitary confinement.Several said they had been well-treated in Iran, but there have been suggestions some may have been held in solitary confinement.
Lt Col Andy Price, who met the group at the airport, said there had been "times when they were left alone", but refused to elaborate.Lt Col Andy Price, who met the group at the airport, said there had been "times when they were left alone", but refused to elaborate.
Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, said: "They did exactly as they should have done from start to finish... and we're extremely proud of them."
The MoD said the freed personnel had roast chicken and roast beef before enjoying drinks with their loved ones on Thursday.The MoD said the freed personnel had roast chicken and roast beef before enjoying drinks with their loved ones on Thursday.
'No deal' In a press conference outside Downing Street, Tony Blair welcomed the crew's safe return.
The navy has begun a review of the circumstances leading to the capture.
Rules of engagement, equipment and procedures will all be analysed, the MoD said.
HAVE YOUR SAY The UK government and its forces have been made to look like total fools Bob, Dundee Send us your comments
In a press conference outside Downing Street, Tony Blair said he was "glad" the crew had been returned "safe and unharmed".
He said "no deal" had been done with the Iranians to secure their release, despite claims by Iran it received a written apology from Britain on Tuesday.He said "no deal" had been done with the Iranians to secure their release, despite claims by Iran it received a written apology from Britain on Tuesday.
And he contrasted the safe return of the Britons with four soldiers killed in Basra in Iraq on the same day. And he contrasted the return unharmed of the Britons with four soldiers killed in Basra in Iraq on the same day.
It emerged on Thursday that in a television interview recorded before their capture, Capt Chris Air, had said one purpose of patrols in the area was to gather intelligence on "any sort of Iranian activity".
In the Five News and Sky News interview, recorded on 13 March but not broadcast until after the 15 had been released, he acknowledged he was operating close to the buffer zone between Iranian and Iraqi waters, adding: "It's good to gather intelligence on the Iranians."
The MoD said this was "all part of modern operations".