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Iranian captives can sell stories Naval captives can sell stories
(about 4 hours later)
The 15 Royal Navy personnel held captive by Iran are to be allowed to sell their stories to the media.The 15 Royal Navy personnel held captive by Iran are to be allowed to sell their stories to the media.
The Ministry of Defence said their experiences amounted to "exceptional circumstances" that allowed its usual ban on such payments to be lifted.The Ministry of Defence said their experiences amounted to "exceptional circumstances" that allowed its usual ban on such payments to be lifted.
Politicians and military commentators have attacked the move, warning the crew may lose public sympathy.
The sailors and Royal Marines were held after Iran accused them of entering its waters, a claim they denied.The sailors and Royal Marines were held after Iran accused them of entering its waters, a claim they denied.
The personnel later said they were blindfolded, bound and held in isolation during the 13 days. The personnel later said they were blindfolded, bound and held in isolation during their 13 days of captivity.
Press conference
In a statement the MoD said: "Serving personnel are not allowed to enter financial arrangements with media organisations.In a statement the MoD said: "Serving personnel are not allowed to enter financial arrangements with media organisations.
"However, in exceptional circumstances such as the awarding of a Victoria Cross or events such as those in recent days, permission can be granted by commanding officers and the MoD.""However, in exceptional circumstances such as the awarding of a Victoria Cross or events such as those in recent days, permission can be granted by commanding officers and the MoD."
BBC political correspondent James Hardy said the decision was prompted by the huge amount of interest shown in the story which could potentially earn the personnel six figure sums. Leading Seaman Faye Turney, 26, the only woman in the party, was not among the six personnel who appeared at a press conference on Friday at the Royal Marines Base at Chivenor, Devon.
"The MoD has decided the easiest thing in this case is to allow them to sell their stories and offer any help and support they need in the process," our correspondent said. Faye Turney is free to sell her story
But he added the Conservatives had already expressed unease at the move, with shadow defence spokesman Liam Fox telling the Sunday Times it could bring into question the crew's professionalism. But reports in the Sunday Times and the Sunday Telegraph said the mother-of-one had now sold her story to ITV1's Tonight with Trevor McDonald programme and a newspaper for more than £100,000.
'Utter despair' The Sunday Times reported the marines had decided to pool their money, giving 10% to their service benevolent fund, while the sailors were expected to keep theirs individually.
Members of the captive crew, meanwhile, have been paying tributes to the four British soldiers killed in Iraq on the day they flew back to the UK. It said the MoD hoped to retain control over the publicity.
Second Lt Joanna Yorke Dyer, Cpl Kris O'Neill, Private Eleanor Dlugosz and Kingsman Adam James Smith died in the roadside bomb blast near Basra, southern Iraq on Thursday. A civilian Kuwaiti translator was also killed, while a fifth soldier was very seriously injured. 'Real danger'
It's so difficult to be ecstatic at a time like this because four soldiers have lost their lives Cpl Dean Harris But Col Bob Stewart, who commanded the British peacekeeping forces in Bosnia, told the BBC he was appalled the crew were being allowed to sell their stories.
At a news conference on Friday, seven of the captives passed on their "thoughts and condolences" to the soldiers' families. "We're glorifying something that we would hope would be fish and chip paper next week," he said.
Royal Marine Corporal Dean Harris from Trevaughan, south Wales, expressed similar sentiments in his first public comments since arriving back. "Hype it up and you'll have real danger here, because some of the stories given out by the hostages, even at the press conference, seemed not to confirm what each one of them said."
He said the deaths in Basra meant he was finding it hard to take part in homecoming celebrations. Many people who shared the anxiety of the hostages' abduction will feel that selling their stories is somewhat undignified. Liam Fox, shadow defence secretary
Craig Murray, a former head of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's maritime section, was also critical.
He said: "I think a great many serving military people are going to wonder where on earth this all leads and the idea that you can make several years' pay out of being captured - as opposed to not being captured and doing your job normally - is a rather strange incentive system."
Opposition politicians also said they were concerned.
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said: "Many people who shared the anxiety of the hostages' abduction will feel that selling their stories is somewhat undignified and falls below the very high standards we have come to expect from our servicemen and women."
Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said the MoD's statement would "raise eyebrows".
He said: "I sincerely hope this will not backfire into a loss of public sympathy for the service personnel.
"The MoD would be well advised to take a fresh look at the rules and consider whether they need revising in the light of this experience."
Iraq deaths
The move came as members of the released crew continued to pay tribute to the four British soldiers killed in Iraq on the day they flew back to the UK.
Royal Marine Corporal Dean Harris from Trevaughan, south Wales, said the deaths in Basra meant he was finding it hard to take part in homecoming celebrations.
"It's so difficult to be ecstatic at a time like this because four soldiers have lost their lives," Cpl Harris said."It's so difficult to be ecstatic at a time like this because four soldiers have lost their lives," Cpl Harris said.
Leading Seaman Turney's parents, Alan and Rosalind Boswell, also said their thoughts were with the families of those killed.Leading Seaman Turney's parents, Alan and Rosalind Boswell, also said their thoughts were with the families of those killed.
In a statement, they thanked the government, diplomats, the MoD and the Royal Navy who all helped secure the release of their daughter, 26, the mother of a young girl. In a statement, they also thanked the government, diplomats, the MoD and the Royal Navy who all helped secure the release of their daughter.
They added: "The homecoming of Faye and her colleagues was for us totally overshadowed by the news that four British personnel had been killed in Basra.
"The feeling of utter despair and loss being suffered by their families and friends does not bear thinking about and our hearts go out to them."