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Pressure mounts over held sailors Pressure mounts over held sailors
(about 2 hours later)
International pressure is mounting on Iran to free 15 Royal Navy personnel, accused by Tehran of "blatant trespassing" into Iranian waters.International pressure is mounting on Iran to free 15 Royal Navy personnel, accused by Tehran of "blatant trespassing" into Iranian waters.
The EU has called for the Britons to be released immediately. The EU has called for the Britons - including one woman - to be released immediately.
The Foreign Office insists the eight sailors and seven marines had been carrying out a routine patrol within Iraqi waters in the northern Gulf. The Foreign Office says they had been carrying out a routine patrol within Iraqi waters in the northern Gulf.
The 15 personnel, from Plymouth-based HMS Cornwall, were seized at gunpoint on Friday after boarding a boat. The eight sailors and seven marines, from Plymouth-based HMS Cornwall, were held on Friday after boarding a boat.
HMS Cornwall's area of operationsHMS Cornwall's area of operations
They were from HMS Cornwall, based in Plymouth - the flagship of the coalition-Iraqi force which patrols Iraqi territorial waters in the northern Gulf to combat smuggling. The Cornwall is the flagship of the coalition-Iraqi force which patrols Iraqi territorial waters in the northern Gulf to combat smuggling.
They had inspected an Iraqi boat before returning to their two small boats where they were seized before being moved along the Shatt al-Arab waterway to Iranian bases. The 15 had inspected an Iraqi boat before returning to their two small boats where they were seized.
They were taken at gunpoint by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard naval forces.
They were then moved along the Shatt al-Arab waterway to Iranian bases, Royal Navy officials said.
HMS CORNWALL FACTS Multi-national force flagship in the northern Gulf Type 22 frigateCrew: 250 (Max 301)Length: 148.1m / 485.9ftSpeed: 30 knots Source: Royal Navy UN backs fresh sanctionsHMS CORNWALL FACTS Multi-national force flagship in the northern Gulf Type 22 frigateCrew: 250 (Max 301)Length: 148.1m / 485.9ftSpeed: 30 knots Source: Royal Navy UN backs fresh sanctions
The seizure follows claims that much of the violence against UK forces in Basra is being engineered by Iranian elements, which Tehran denies.
Germany, which holds the EU presidency, has called for the immediate release of the Britons.Germany, which holds the EU presidency, has called for the immediate release of the Britons.
"The presidency of the council of the European Union calls upon the Iranian government to immediately release the 15 British seamen detained yesterday," its statement on Saturday said."The presidency of the council of the European Union calls upon the Iranian government to immediately release the 15 British seamen detained yesterday," its statement on Saturday said.
It added that the presidency was consulting closely with the UK government while the German ambassador in Tehran had approached the Iranian government on behalf of all 27 EU countries.
The statement was issued at the EU's 50th anniversary summit in Berlin.
Tehran claims the captured sailors have confessed to entering Iran illegally. But the British government insists they were in Iraqi waters and has demanded their immediate release.Tehran claims the captured sailors have confessed to entering Iran illegally. But the British government insists they were in Iraqi waters and has demanded their immediate release.
Iranian armed forces spokesman Gen Ali Reza Afshar told Iranian media the 15 personnel were being interrogated, but were in good health.Iranian armed forces spokesman Gen Ali Reza Afshar told Iranian media the 15 personnel were being interrogated, but were in good health.
Foreign Office junior minister Lord Triesman has met the Iranian ambassador Rasoul Movahedian to demand their immediate release.Foreign Office junior minister Lord Triesman has met the Iranian ambassador Rasoul Movahedian to demand their immediate release.
Saturday's hour-long meeting was described as "frank and civil".Saturday's hour-long meeting was described as "frank and civil".
Iran's Fars news agency earlier said the group, which includes one woman, was flown to Tehran, arriving in the capital at 1200 local time (0830 GMT).
But that report was later withdrawn from the agency's website.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has unanimously voted in favour of new sanctions against Iran for its refusal to suspend its nuclear enrichment programme.Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has unanimously voted in favour of new sanctions against Iran for its refusal to suspend its nuclear enrichment programme.
The decision broadens the limited sanctions imposed in December 2006.The decision broadens the limited sanctions imposed in December 2006.
FAMILY INFORMATION LINE 0845 7800 900 class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/3077540.stm">Timeline: UK-Iran relations The seizure of the boarding party carries echoes of an incident in June 2004 when a party of eight Marines and sailors were held for three days after being seized by the Iranians in the same Shatt al-Arab waterway.
On that occasion the hostages were paraded blindfolded on television, and later freed.
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