This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6536203.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Naval captives can sell stories | Naval captives can sell stories |
| (about 1 hour 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. | 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 their 13 days of captivity. | The personnel later said they were blindfolded, bound and held in isolation during their 13 days of captivity. |
| 'Raised eyebrows' | |
| 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." |
| Many people who shared the anxiety of the hostages' abduction will feel that selling their stories is somewhat undignified Liam Fox, shadow defence secretary | |
| But opposition politicians have been strongly critical of the move, with the Conservatives say a bidding war would be inappropriate and undignified and the Liberal Democrats warning the strategy could backfire. | |
| 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. | |
| Faye Turney is free to sell her story | Faye Turney is free to sell her story |
| "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." | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| It said the MoD hoped to retain control over the publicity. | It said the MoD hoped to retain control over the publicity. |
| 'Real danger' | 'Real danger' |
| 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. | 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. |
| "We're glorifying something that we would hope would be fish and chip paper next week," he said. | "We're glorifying something that we would hope would be fish and chip paper next week," he said. |
| "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." | "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." |
| Craig Murray, a former head of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's maritime section, was also critical. | 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." | 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." |
| Iraq deaths | 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. | 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. | 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 also thanked the government, diplomats, the MoD and the Royal Navy who all helped secure the release of their daughter. | In a statement, they also thanked the government, diplomats, the MoD and the Royal Navy who all helped secure the release of their daughter. |