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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Navy resumes Gulf ship missions | Navy resumes Gulf ship missions |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The Royal Navy has resumed boarding operations in the northern Gulf for the first time since the capture of its personnel by Iran. | The Royal Navy has resumed boarding operations in the northern Gulf for the first time since the capture of its personnel by Iran. |
| The missions were suspended after 15 UK sailors and marines were detained by Iranian forces in March. | The missions were suspended after 15 UK sailors and marines were detained by Iranian forces in March. |
| Meanwhile, former BBC news and current affairs chief Tony Hall will lead the inquiry into the MoD's decision to let the captives sell their stories. | Meanwhile, former BBC news and current affairs chief Tony Hall will lead the inquiry into the MoD's decision to let the captives sell their stories. |
| Defence Secretary Des Browne made both announcements in written statements. | Defence Secretary Des Browne made both announcements in written statements. |
| We have taken measures..to ensure the risk to boarding operations is minimised Des Browne | We have taken measures..to ensure the risk to boarding operations is minimised Des Browne |
| The 15 British service personnel were searching a cargo boat in the Gulf when they were captured over a boundary dispute. | The 15 British service personnel were searching a cargo boat in the Gulf when they were captured over a boundary dispute. |
| 'Incremental return' | 'Incremental return' |
| Mr Browne said in a Commons statement: "I am pleased to announce that UK forces will today recommence boarding operations in the Gulf that were suspended following the seizure of Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel by the Iranians on 23 March 2007. | Mr Browne said in a Commons statement: "I am pleased to announce that UK forces will today recommence boarding operations in the Gulf that were suspended following the seizure of Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel by the Iranians on 23 March 2007. |
| "Pending the results of the inquiries set up to identify any lessons we can learn from this incident, we have taken measures, in line with the findings of the initial reviews of procedures, to ensure the risk to boarding operations is minimised. | "Pending the results of the inquiries set up to identify any lessons we can learn from this incident, we have taken measures, in line with the findings of the initial reviews of procedures, to ensure the risk to boarding operations is minimised. |
| "This will involve an incremental return to full boarding operations in all areas. | "This will involve an incremental return to full boarding operations in all areas. |
| "This approach in no way affects overall coalition naval operations in the Gulf." | "This approach in no way affects overall coalition naval operations in the Gulf." |
| Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox also welcomed the move. | |
| He claimed the cessation of boarding parties had sent out "completely the wrong message" and smacked of "a lack of resolve" by the UK. | |
| Mr Fox added: "Protecting Iraq's oil infrastructure and the searching of merchant vessels to stem the smuggling of illegal weapons into Iraq has to be one of our key priorities." | |
| Meanwhile, the defence secretary also revealed more details about an inquiry into his department's media strategy. | |
| "I have asked a small team to conduct a review of media access to individual personnel involved in operations, particularly in such high profile incidents," he said. | "I have asked a small team to conduct a review of media access to individual personnel involved in operations, particularly in such high profile incidents," he said. |
| Mr Browne said the inquiry into his department's media strategy the incident would be led by Mr Hall, who is now chief executive of the Royal Opera House. | Mr Browne said the inquiry into his department's media strategy the incident would be led by Mr Hall, who is now chief executive of the Royal Opera House. |
| Other members of his inquiry are Patrick Turner, a senior MoD civil servant, and Major General Andrew Stewart, the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Policy) in the MoD. | Other members of his inquiry are Patrick Turner, a senior MoD civil servant, and Major General Andrew Stewart, the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Policy) in the MoD. |
| The inquiry was launched after the decision to allow the former detainees to sell their stories was revoked. | The inquiry was launched after the decision to allow the former detainees to sell their stories was revoked. |
| A separate inquiry into operational issues surrounding the capture is being led by Lieutenant General Rob Fulton, the Governor of Gibraltar and a former Royal Marines officer, he said. | A separate inquiry into operational issues surrounding the capture is being led by Lieutenant General Rob Fulton, the Governor of Gibraltar and a former Royal Marines officer, he said. |