Iran Told To Free Captives
March 27, 2007
The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary are piling pressure on Iran to release 15 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines captured in the Gulf.
Tony Blair said he was “utterly confident” those in custody had done nothing wrong while Margaret Beckett demanded their safe return in “very robust” terms.
The captives seized on Friday include married mother-of-one Faye Turney, 26, and 21-year-old Paul Barton.
All 15 British personnel were detained at gun-point after they boarded a dhow carrying suspicious cargo off the coast of Iraq.
Iran claims their vessel strayed into Iranian waters - a claim emphatically denied by Britain.
Mrs Beckett spoke to her Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki for the second time since the affair began.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “She (Mrs Beckett) spoke in very robust terms, re-iterating the UK’s concerns about the continued detention of our personnel.
“She demanded their safe and speedy return and immediate consular access so that we can satisfy ourselves that they are safe and well.”
It is understood that Mrs Beckett will make a statement to the House of Commons soon.
Earlier, Mr Blair warned of a “different phase” if diplomatic efforts failed to secure their release.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said he was referring to “a different way” of handling talks.
This may involve making public the reasons why the UK was certain the personnel were in Iraqi waters.
The Foreign Office was unable to confirm reports that Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said British diplomats could visit the group after the “primary investigation” by Iranian officials.
The sailors and marines have now been held in an unknown location for five days, but are said to be being treated humanely.
