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Bush attacks Iran over captives Bush attacks Iran over captives
(about 1 hour later)
President George W Bush has condemned Iran's "inexcusable behaviour" after its capture of 15 Royal Navy personnel.President George W Bush has condemned Iran's "inexcusable behaviour" after its capture of 15 Royal Navy personnel.
The US leader added that he would "strongly support" the British government over the crisis.The US leader added that he would "strongly support" the British government over the crisis.
However, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has attacked the UK as "arrogant and selfish". The Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander told the BBC Britain would continue to use diplomacy and a "twin track approach".
He insisted that "British occupier forces" trespassed into Iranian waters and that his country's border guards had displayed "skill and bravery". Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has attacked the UK as "arrogant and selfish".
'Inexcusable behaviour' Mr Bush told reporters at Camp David: "The British hostages issue is a serious issue because the Iranians took these people out of Iraqi water.
Speaking at his mountain retreat in Camp David, Maryland, Mr Bush told reporters: "The British hostages issue is a serious issue because the Iranians took these people out of Iraqi water.
"And it is inexcusable behaviour."And it is inexcusable behaviour.
"I strongly support the Blair government's attempts to resolve this peacefully."I strongly support the Blair government's attempts to resolve this peacefully.
"And I support the prime minister when he made it clear there were no quid pro quos. "And I support the prime minister when he made it clear there were no quid pro quos. The Iranians must give back the hostages."
"The Iranians must give back the hostages." 'Full solidarity'
His calls were echoed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel who said Britain had the "full solidarity of the European Union".
The captured navy personnel have been shown on Iranian TVThe captured navy personnel have been shown on Iranian TV
His calls were echoed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the current holder of the European Union presidency. Meanwhile, Cabinet minister Mr Alexander told BBC One's Sunday AM programme diplomatic efforts would continue.
"Britain has the full solidarity of the European Union. We demand the immediate release of the 15 British soldiers," she said during a visit to Israel. "On one hand, working closely with international partners to make clear the strength of international feeling that these British service personnel should be returned," he said.
But in a speech in the city of Andinmeshk, Iranian President Mr Ahmadinejad attacked Britain for failing to apologise. "And on the other hand exploring the potential for dialogue with the Iranians."
He said: "The British occupier forces did trespass our waters. Our border guards detained them with skill and bravery." 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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/6502805.stm">Both versions in more detail
"But arrogant powers, because of their arrogant and selfish spirit, are claiming otherwise. However, Iranian President Mr Ahmadinejad insisted In a speech in the city of Andinmeshk that "British occupier forces" had "trespassed".
"Our border guards detained them with skill and bravery," he said.
He also attacked Britain for failing to apologise.
"After the arrest of these people, the British government, instead of apologising and expressing regret over the action taken, started to claim that we are in their debt and shouted in different international councils."After the arrest of these people, the British government, instead of apologising and expressing regret over the action taken, started to claim that we are in their debt and shouted in different international councils.
"But this is not the legal and logical way for this issue.""But this is not the legal and logical way for this issue."
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
Britain denies Iran's claims that the UK crew was in its waters when seized on 23 March and is demanding their "immediate" return.Britain denies Iran's claims that the UK crew was in its waters when seized on 23 March and is demanding their "immediate" return.
Iran's official IRNA news agency had carried a report saying Gholamreza Ansari, Iran's ambassador to Moscow, had told Russian television that legal moves had already started against the 15 and that there was a possibility they could stand trial. 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
But the agency later quoted Mr Ansari saying the television channel had made a "translation mistake" and that he had not mentioned the prospect of a trial.
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
UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said Mr Ansari's comments were "unhelpful".
The Scottish Secretary, Douglas Alexander, told BBC One's Sunday AM programme Britain would continue to use diplomacy and a "twin track approach".
"On one hand, working closely with international partners to make clear the strength of international feeling that these British service personnel should be returned," he said.
"And on the other hand exploring the potential for dialogue with the Iranians."
BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said that, although there was no sign of a major diplomatic breakthrough in the crisis, there was now a sense of dialogue between the two countries.BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said that, although there was no sign of a major diplomatic breakthrough in the crisis, there was now a sense of dialogue between the two countries.
Both sides appeared to be "lowering the temperature", he added.Both sides appeared to be "lowering the temperature", he added.
The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Menzies Campbell told Sky News there were signs Iran had engineered the crisis for political purposes.
"The speed at which the marines and the sailors were captured and the way in which it happened suggests that either it had been organised before or there was a spontaneous effort made to try and get hold of some British troops for some other purposes beyond anything to do with the waters that they were operating in," he said.
Tory former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind welcomed statements from the EU and UN, but said "pressure" was needed.
He told Sunday AM: "But if you are going to make threats of economic sanctions, for example, they have to be made privately because otherwise the Iranians are pushed into a humiliating climb-down."
He called for "solidarity" from EU allies over possible sanctions such as withholding export credit guarantees.
HAVE YOUR SAY They will have to be released by diplomatic means and I believe that this will happen Neil Whittaker, Lancashire, UK Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY They will have to be released by diplomatic means and I believe that this will happen Neil Whittaker, Lancashire, UK Send us your comments
Meanwhile, former hostage Terry Waite, who was held captive for 1,760 days in Beirut before being released in November 1991, has offered to travel to Iran to negotiate with those holding the Britons.Meanwhile, former hostage Terry Waite, who was held captive for 1,760 days in Beirut before being released in November 1991, has offered to travel to Iran to negotiate with those holding the Britons.
Mr Waite said threatening the Iranian government was counterproductive and said he would be able to "cut through some of the rhetoric".Mr Waite said threatening the Iranian government was counterproductive and said he would be able to "cut through some of the rhetoric".
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.