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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Navy captives 'could face trial' | Navy captives 'could face trial' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The 15 Royal Navy personnel held captive by Iran could stand trial for "entering Iranian waters", a senior Iranian diplomat has said. | The 15 Royal Navy personnel held captive by Iran could stand trial for "entering Iranian waters", a senior Iranian diplomat has said. |
| Gholamreza Ansari, Iran's ambassador to Moscow, is quoted as telling Russian TV they may face "illegal action" charges. | Gholamreza Ansari, Iran's ambassador to Moscow, is quoted as telling Russian TV they may face "illegal action" charges. |
| But the UK government says the captives were seized in Iraqi waters and has demanded their "immediate" return. | But the UK government says the captives were seized in Iraqi waters and has demanded their "immediate" return. |
| Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has written to the Iranian government, but the details of the letter are unknown. | |
| According to Iran's IRNA news agency, Mr Ansari told Russian television legal moves against the 15 had already started "and if charges against them are proven, they will be punished". | According to Iran's IRNA news agency, Mr Ansari told Russian television legal moves against the 15 had already started "and if charges against them are proven, they will be punished". |
| Raid | Raid |
| Britain denies Iran's claims that the UK crew was in its waters when seized on 23 March. | Britain denies Iran's claims that the UK crew was in its waters when seized on 23 March. |
| A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "Our position has not changed. We have made it clear that they were inside Iraqi waters and we want them returned immediately." | A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "Our position has not changed. We have made it clear that they were inside Iraqi waters and we want them returned immediately." |
| UK VERSION OF EVENTS 1 Crew boards merchant ship 1.7NM inside Iraqi waters2 HMS Cornwall was south-east of this, and inside Iraqi waters3 Iran tells UK that merchant ship was at a different point, still within Iraqi waters4 After UK points this out, Iran provides alternative position, now within Iranian waters | UK VERSION OF EVENTS 1 Crew boards merchant ship 1.7NM inside Iraqi waters2 HMS Cornwall was south-east of this, and inside Iraqi waters3 Iran tells UK that merchant ship was at a different point, still within Iraqi waters4 After UK points this out, Iran provides alternative position, now within Iranian waters |
| Mrs Beckett said she had replied to a letter from the Iranian government, but no detail of the contents was given. | |
| The Iranian letter had not suggested Tehran was looking for a solution to "this difficult situation", she added. | |
| Mrs Beckett said: "We have made our response and we are now beginning to discuss. As you may know it's a holiday period in Iran and it's perhaps not too helpful." | |
| Earlier, US state department spokesman Sean McCormack rejected suggestions that a swap could be made for five Iranians captured in Iraq by US forces in January. | |
| The Iranians, believed to be members of the Revolutionary Guard, were taken in a raid in the city of Irbil, along with equipment which the Americans say shows clear Iranian links to networks supplying Iraqi insurgents with technology and weapons. | |
| 'Parading' | |
| US officials have condemned Iran's actions over the 15 Navy personnel and publicly supported the UK. | |
| Mr McCormack said: "The international community is not going to stand for the Iranian government trying to use this issue to distract the rest of the world from the situation in which Iran finds itself vis-a-vis its nuclear programme." | Mr McCormack said: "The international community is not going to stand for the Iranian government trying to use this issue to distract the rest of the world from the situation in which Iran finds itself vis-a-vis its nuclear programme." |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair has criticised Iran for "parading" the UK crew on television in a way which would only "enhance people's sense of disgust". | |
| IRANIAN VERSION OF EVENTS 1 Royal Navy crew stray 0.5km inside Iranian waters 2 Iran gives set of co-ordinates to back up their claims 3 According to seized GPS equipment, the Royal Navy crew had previously entered Iranian waters at several other points 4 Iran informs Britain of the position where the crew were seized, inside Iranian waters Both versions in more detail | IRANIAN VERSION OF EVENTS 1 Royal Navy crew stray 0.5km inside Iranian waters 2 Iran gives set of co-ordinates to back up their claims 3 According to seized GPS equipment, the Royal Navy crew had previously entered Iranian waters at several other points 4 Iran informs Britain of the position where the crew were seized, inside Iranian waters Both versions in more detail |
| But a former Iranian ambassador to the United Nations, Said Rajai Khorasani, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Mr Blair had been too "authoritative" in his approach. | But a former Iranian ambassador to the United Nations, Said Rajai Khorasani, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Mr Blair had been too "authoritative" in his approach. |
| He added: "He could have said for instance, 'Well, even if there is possibly a mistake, in the light of good relations between the two countries, I hope that you will facilitate their release.' | He added: "He could have said for instance, 'Well, even if there is possibly a mistake, in the light of good relations between the two countries, I hope that you will facilitate their release.' |
| "I mean that's a more friendly - let's say phraseology - than dictating, you know, immediately and unconditionally, and so on and so forth." | "I mean that's a more friendly - let's say phraseology - than dictating, you know, immediately and unconditionally, and so on and so forth." |
| 'Sacrificed' | 'Sacrificed' |
| In what appeared to be an edited broadcast on an Iranian channel on Friday, captured sailor Nathan Thomas Summers said: "I would like to apologise for entering your waters without permission." | In what appeared to be an edited broadcast on an Iranian channel on Friday, captured sailor Nathan Thomas Summers said: "I would like to apologise for entering your waters without permission." |
| He was shown alongside two colleagues, one of whom was Leading Seaman Faye Turney, from Shropshire, who had been broadcast apologising to Iran earlier in the week. | He was shown alongside two colleagues, one of whom was Leading Seaman Faye Turney, from Shropshire, who had been broadcast apologising to Iran earlier in the week. |
| A letter, allegedly from LS Turney, was released on Friday in which she said she had been "sacrificed" to UK and US government policy. | A letter, allegedly from LS Turney, was released on Friday in which she said she had been "sacrificed" to UK and US government policy. |
| Second 'apology' in full Faye Turney's 'letters' | Second 'apology' in full Faye Turney's 'letters' |
| European Union foreign ministers, meeting in Bremen, Germany, called for "the immediate and unconditional release" of the sailors and expressed "unconditional support" for Britain's position. | European Union foreign ministers, meeting in Bremen, Germany, called for "the immediate and unconditional release" of the sailors and expressed "unconditional support" for Britain's position. |
| The BBC has been able to confirm the names of six of the 15 captured sailors and marines. | The BBC has been able to confirm the names of six of the 15 captured sailors and marines. |
| Along with LS Turney and Nathan Summers, who is from Cornwall, they are Paul Barton from Southport, Danny Masterton from Ayrshire, Joe Tindall from south London and Adam Sperry from Leicester. | Along with LS Turney and Nathan Summers, who is from Cornwall, they are Paul Barton from Southport, Danny Masterton from Ayrshire, Joe Tindall from south London and Adam Sperry from Leicester. |
| The Britons, based on HMS Cornwall, were seized by Revolutionary Guards as they returned from searching a vessel in the northern Gulf. | The Britons, based on HMS Cornwall, were seized by Revolutionary Guards as they returned from searching a vessel in the northern Gulf. |