Summary
Families of the British naval hostages captured by the Iranians are today preparing to welcome them home after they were freed in a day of high drama in Tehran. The surprise announcement by Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, brought a 13-day stand-off to an end. He said it was a 'gift to the British people', and the president appeared on Iranian TV greeting the hostages personally. The 15 Royal Navy sailors and marines were held after Iran claimed they had entered its waters while patrolling off the Iraqi coast, a claim denied by the British Government. The group had been repeatedly shown on Iranian TV, apparently 'admitting' that they had strayed across the maritime border from Iraq. Tony Blair said he was 'glad' that they were being released. He insisted there had been no negotiations with Iran. 'Throughout, we have taken a measured approach, firm but calm, not negotiating but not confronting either,' he said. The service personnel are due to leave Iran this morning and arrive back in Britain at lunchtime. They are pictured above after their release outside the presidential palace in Tehran. Among their number were Lieutenant Felix Carman, from Port Eynon near Swansea (front centre), Operator Maintainer Andrew Henderson, from Wrexham (third from right) and Corporal Dean Harris, from Carmarthen (far right).: FROM PAGE 4&5: They're on their way home- Iran frees naval hostages 'as a gift of the British people':The naval hostages being held by Iran are on their way home this morning after they were suddenly freed in Tehran, bringing a 13-day stand- off to an end. Iran's hardline president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, unexpectedly used a news conference to theatrically announce that he was pardoning the 15 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines as 'a gift to the British people'. They had been held after Iran claimed they had entered its waters while patrolling off the Iraqi coast, a claim hotly denied by the British Government. Among their number were Lieutenant Felix Carman, from Port Eynon, near Swansea, Corporal Dean Harris, from Carmarthen and Operator Maintainer Andrew Henderson, from Wrexham. Lieut Carman's mother Alison said last night, 'I don't think that I will believe it is true until he is standing before us in flesh and blood and I can hug him.'
The group had been repeatedly shown on Iranian TV, to the fury of the Government here. They were seen 'admitting' to straying into Iranian waters, and claimed to have been well treated by their captors.See the full content of this document
Extract
Joy All Around As Iran Releases Sailors
The news was greeted with relief and jubilation by the families of the detainees, while Tony Blair said he was glad they were being released.
In a brief, carefully-worded statement outside the door of No 10, the Prime Minister insisted that there had not been any negotiation with the Iranians.'Throughout, we have taken a measured approach, firm but calm, not negotiating but not confronting either,' he said.He thanked Britain's allies in the European Union, the...See the full content of this document
Sponsored links
