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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| No 10 welcomes Iran announcement | No 10 welcomes Iran announcement |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Downing Street has welcomed the announcement by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that 15 captured Royal Navy personnel will be freed. | Downing Street has welcomed the announcement by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that 15 captured Royal Navy personnel will be freed. |
| Relatives and friends of some of the crew, who were captured on 23 March, also spoke of their relief and joy. | Relatives and friends of some of the crew, who were captured on 23 March, also spoke of their relief and joy. |
| Mr Ahmadinejad said the crew would be released and taken to an airport. | Mr Ahmadinejad said the crew would be released and taken to an airport. |
| Downing Street, which denies Iran's claim the 15 were in its waters, says it is trying to establish the timing of their release. | Downing Street, which denies Iran's claim the 15 were in its waters, says it is trying to establish the timing of their release. |
| Mr Ahmadinejad appeared on TV speaking to some of the British personnel, who were wearing suits, after his announcement they would be released. | |
| Speaking through a translator, he was heard asking how one of the crew was and joking that he had been on a "compulsory trip". | |
| The British crewman replied: "I wouldn't look at it like that but you could call it that." | |
| Mr Ahmadinejad then wished the crew member "success". | |
| Release 'a surprise' | Release 'a surprise' |
| In its statement, Downing Street said: "We welcome what the president has said about the release of our 15 personnel. | In its statement, Downing Street said: "We welcome what the president has said about the release of our 15 personnel. |
| "We are now establishing exactly what that means in terms of the method and timing of their release." | "We are now establishing exactly what that means in terms of the method and timing of their release." |
| British diplomatic sources told the BBC the announcement of the sailors' release came "out of the blue" and was "a real surprise", and on the face of it looked good. Currently the only information the government has is what Mr Ahmadinejad said in his news conference. | British diplomatic sources told the BBC the announcement of the sailors' release came "out of the blue" and was "a real surprise", and on the face of it looked good. Currently the only information the government has is what Mr Ahmadinejad said in his news conference. |
| Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the crew would be freed immediately | Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the crew would be freed immediately |
| UK officials are trying to contact the Iranian authorities to work out details of how the captured crew will be handed over and return to the UK. | UK officials are trying to contact the Iranian authorities to work out details of how the captured crew will be handed over and return to the UK. |
| An Iranian official in London said the sailors would be handed over to British diplomats and that it would then be up to the Foreign Office to decide how they would return home. | An Iranian official in London said the sailors would be handed over to British diplomats and that it would then be up to the Foreign Office to decide how they would return home. |
| "They will go through some brief formalities and then they will go to the embassy," the diplomat said. | "They will go through some brief formalities and then they will go to the embassy," the diplomat said. |
| The government's civil contingencies committee - known as Cobra - is to meet at 1700 GMT. | The government's civil contingencies committee - known as Cobra - is to meet at 1700 GMT. |
| The family of Royal Marine Adam Sperry, 22, of Aylestone, Leicester, said the announcement was "the best present imaginable". | The family of Royal Marine Adam Sperry, 22, of Aylestone, Leicester, said the announcement was "the best present imaginable". |
| I've just told my mum and she's really chuffed James Sperry | I've just told my mum and she's really chuffed James Sperry |
| His uncle, Roy Cooper, said: "The one thing I wanted was Adam's safe return to his family for Easter. | His uncle, Roy Cooper, said: "The one thing I wanted was Adam's safe return to his family for Easter. |
| "Whoever has been in the right or wrong, the whole thing has been a political mess, so let's just get them home. It's great. | "Whoever has been in the right or wrong, the whole thing has been a political mess, so let's just get them home. It's great. |
| "I want to say a big thanks to everyone for getting them back before Easter. It has been so stressful for Adam's mum and grandma and this is the best Easter present they could have. | "I want to say a big thanks to everyone for getting them back before Easter. It has been so stressful for Adam's mum and grandma and this is the best Easter present they could have. |
| "We were going to be having a event in the pub to call for Adam's release on Friday, now it will be a day and a night of celebration and they are all invited." | "We were going to be having a event in the pub to call for Adam's release on Friday, now it will be a day and a night of celebration and they are all invited." |
| James, Marine Sperry's brother, said: "I've just told my mum and she's really chuffed." | James, Marine Sperry's brother, said: "I've just told my mum and she's really chuffed." |
| 'Good news' | 'Good news' |
| Celebrations were taking place in Hayle, Cornwall, the home town of 21-year-old Nathan Summers. | Celebrations were taking place in Hayle, Cornwall, the home town of 21-year-old Nathan Summers. |
| Mr Summers' grandmother, April Rawsthorne, said: "I am just so happy today, I want to thank everyone - all my friends and family who stuck by us." | Mr Summers' grandmother, April Rawsthorne, said: "I am just so happy today, I want to thank everyone - all my friends and family who stuck by us." |
| She added: "I think he had handled himself wonderfully. I think he surprised everyone because he is very quiet. | She added: "I think he had handled himself wonderfully. I think he surprised everyone because he is very quiet. |
| "Thank the Lord everything has turned out well for them." | "Thank the Lord everything has turned out well for them." |
| Stephen Coe, father of Leading Seaman Chris Coe, 31, said: "This is absolutely fantastic. We're over the moon. | Stephen Coe, father of Leading Seaman Chris Coe, 31, said: "This is absolutely fantastic. We're over the moon. |
| "The wife and all the family were jumping for joy. The wife and his sister, it's hit them hard but myself and my brother in law have been keeping them strong." | "The wife and all the family were jumping for joy. The wife and his sister, it's hit them hard but myself and my brother in law have been keeping them strong." |