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/6493391.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Seizure unjustified, Iran warned Seizure unjustified, Iran warned
(about 1 hour later)
Iran's detention of 15 Royal Navy personnel is "unjustified and wrong", Prime Minister Tony Blair has said.Iran's detention of 15 Royal Navy personnel is "unjustified and wrong", Prime Minister Tony Blair has said.
The UK is still waiting to be granted access to the HMS Cornwall staff, who were seized on Friday. UK officials are waiting to be granted access to the HMS Cornwall staff, who were seized on Friday, and have not been told where the group are held.
At a Tehran meeting between Iranian government officials and the UK ambassador, the Iranians failed to say where the Britons were being held. Hardline students close to Iran's president have called for the sailors to be put on trial.
Iran says they were trespassing in its waters, but speaking at an EU summit, Mr Blair denied this was the case.Iran says they were trespassing in its waters, but speaking at an EU summit, Mr Blair denied this was the case.
"It simply is not true that they went into Iranian territorial waters and I hope the Iranian government understands how fundamental an issue this is for us," Mr Blair said."It simply is not true that they went into Iranian territorial waters and I hope the Iranian government understands how fundamental an issue this is for us," Mr Blair said.
HAVE YOUR SAY The country of Iran needs to have a good long hard look at how this situation will look to the rest of the world Gary, UK Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY The country of Iran needs to have a good long hard look at how this situation will look to the rest of the world Gary, UK Send us your comments
"We have certainly sent the message back to them very clearly indeed. They should not be under any doubt at all about how seriously we regard this act, which is unjustified and wrong.""We have certainly sent the message back to them very clearly indeed. They should not be under any doubt at all about how seriously we regard this act, which is unjustified and wrong."
The prime minister, in Berlin for the EU's 50th anniversary celebrations, said he had not commented up to now because he wanted the incident to be resolved in "as easy and diplomatic a way as possible".The prime minister, in Berlin for the EU's 50th anniversary celebrations, said he had not commented up to now because he wanted the incident to be resolved in "as easy and diplomatic a way as possible".
He added: "It is the welfare of the people that have been taken by the Iranian government that is most important."He added: "It is the welfare of the people that have been taken by the Iranian government that is most important."
HMS Cornwall's area of operationsHMS Cornwall's area of operations
The Foreign Office is adamant that the 15 were in Iraqi waters and has called for their immediate release.The Foreign Office is adamant that the 15 were in Iraqi waters and has called for their immediate release.
The British embassy in Iran said it had sought Sunday's meeting to demand the release of the sailors.The British embassy in Iran said it had sought Sunday's meeting to demand the release of the sailors.
However, reports on Iranian TV said it was Iran's foreign ministry that summoned the ambassador, to receive a protest about British actions.
The Iranian foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, said the UK had requested a phone call with him later on Sunday.The Iranian foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, said the UK had requested a phone call with him later on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters in New York, he said the Britons were involved in "the illegal entrance into Iranian territorial waters and this issue is being considered legally".
Students belonging to the paramilitary Basij group, which is close to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have called for the Britons to be put on trial.
The Britons, who include one woman, were seized at gunpoint by forces said to be Iranian Revolutionary Guards, after inspecting an Iraqi boat and returning to their two small boats to head back to the Cornwall.The Britons, who include one woman, were seized at gunpoint by forces said to be Iranian Revolutionary Guards, after inspecting an Iraqi boat and returning to their two small boats to head back to the Cornwall.
British ambassador Geoffrey Adams asked to know the whereabouts of the personnel and for consular access, but this was not forthcoming.British ambassador Geoffrey Adams asked to know the whereabouts of the personnel and for consular access, but this was not forthcoming.
A British diplomat said the Iranians replied they would get back to the embassy on those issues - and told the ambassador the release of the 15 Britons was yet to be determined.A British diplomat said the Iranians replied they would get back to the embassy on those issues - and told the ambassador the release of the 15 Britons was yet to be determined.
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.
On Saturday, the UN Security Council voted unanimously in favour of further sanctions against Iran for its refusal to suspend its nuclear enrichment programme.On Saturday, the UN Security Council voted unanimously in favour of further sanctions against Iran for its refusal to suspend its nuclear enrichment programme.
The seizure of the boarding party carries echoes of an incident in June 2004 when a group of eight marines and sailors were held for three days after being seized by the Iranians in the Shatt al-Arab waterway.The seizure of the boarding party carries echoes of an incident in June 2004 when a group of eight marines and sailors were held for three days after being seized by the Iranians in the Shatt al-Arab waterway.
They were paraded blindfolded on television and later freed.They were paraded blindfolded on television and later freed.
Return to topReturn to top