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'Buck stops with me' says Browne 'Buck stops with me' says Browne
(20 minutes later)
The defence secretary says he takes full responsibility for decisions which allowed the 15 sailors and marines held by the Iranians to sell their stories.The defence secretary says he takes full responsibility for decisions which allowed the 15 sailors and marines held by the Iranians to sell their stories.
Des Browne, speaking for the first time since the row, said with hindsight he could have done things differently and said "ultimately, the buck stops here".Des Browne, speaking for the first time since the row, said with hindsight he could have done things differently and said "ultimately, the buck stops here".
Mr Browne has been criticised for not over-ruling a navy decision to let the freed crew sell their stories.Mr Browne has been criticised for not over-ruling a navy decision to let the freed crew sell their stories.
After the stories sparked a backlash, he banned any further sales. After the stories sparked a backlash, he banned any further sales of stories.
The handling of events has been criticised by opposition MPs and questioned by ex-soldiers and some of the relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq.The handling of events has been criticised by opposition MPs and questioned by ex-soldiers and some of the relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq.
Ex-defence minister and Labour Iraq war critic Peter Kilfoyle said the UK's armed forces had been left a "laughing stock".Ex-defence minister and Labour Iraq war critic Peter Kilfoyle said the UK's armed forces had been left a "laughing stock".
Sailor interviews 'Hindsight'
Mr Browne, in his first interview since the row erupted over the weekend, said he had been asked on Friday "to note" the navy's decision to allow the freed sailors and marines to sell their stories. Mr Browne, in his first interview since the row erupted over the weekend, said he had been asked on Friday "to note" the navy's decision to allow the freed personnel to sell their stories.
He said he, and the navy, were not content with the decision but felt they had little choice, given that the stories had to be told "to counter Iranian propaganda". He said he, and the navy, were "not content" with the decision but felt they had little choice, given that the stories had to be told in their interests "to counteract the propaganda the Iranians had put out using them".
The view was that the stories would have been told anyway and that money would have changed hands. The view the navy took, following "analysis of regulations", was that given the stories would have to be told, the people concerned could not be prevented from being paid.
After further discussions with officials on Monday his view of whether the selling of stories could be banned changed, he said. But, he added, after further discussions with officials on Monday his view of whether the selling of stories could be banned changed, he said.
"Clearly with hindsight", on Friday, "I could have made a different decision". This meant, referring to his earlier decision to give the go ahead, "clearly with hindsight... I could have made a different decision".
'Incompetence''Incompetence'
Arthur Batchelor, 20, the youngest of the British sailors to be held captive, told the Daily Mirror about his "nightmare" at the hands of his captors - and how they called him Mr Bean.
And Leading Seaman Faye Turney sold her story to ITV1's Tonight with Trevor Macdonald and the Sun newspaper - reportedly for a six-figure sum, some of which will go to navy families.
Conservative shadow defence secretary Liam Fox, who is calling for an inquiry into the circumstances of the 15's capture, said: "This is complete ministerial incompetence. Ministers utterly failed to think out the consequences of what they were doing."Conservative shadow defence secretary Liam Fox, who is calling for an inquiry into the circumstances of the 15's capture, said: "This is complete ministerial incompetence. Ministers utterly failed to think out the consequences of what they were doing."
"The MoD's actions were completely at odds with normal procedure and totally out of character with the ethos of our armed forces.""The MoD's actions were completely at odds with normal procedure and totally out of character with the ethos of our armed forces."
I want everyone out there to know my story from my side, see what I went through Leading Seaman Faye Turney Captive 'felt like a traitor' Stories sale criticism grows I want everyone out there to know my story from my side, see what I went through Leading Seaman Faye Turney Captive 'felt like a traitor' Stories sale criticism grows
On Tuesday, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: "This was a decision taken by the navy... I don't think it's helpful to get into who informed who when. " For the Liberal Democrats Chris Huhne said the armed forces wanted capable and competent leadership, but it had been a "complete mess up".
In the Trevor Macdonald programme, Leading Seaman Turney defended her decision to sell her story and said a percentage of the money would help the crew and families of HMS Cornwall. He said: "The fact that both Des Browne and the prime minister were informed about this and that their alarm bells were not ringing about the implications for example, for people in armed services who have been injured, people in the families of service personnel who've had people killed on active service... does seem to me extraordinary."
"I want everyone out there to know my story from my side, see what I went through," she told the programme. Mr Bean
Arthur Batchelor, 20, the youngest of the British sailors to be held captive, told the Daily Mirror about his "nightmare" at the hands of his captors - and how they likened him to Mr Bean.
And Leading Seaman Faye Turney sold her story to ITV1's Tonight with Trevor Macdonald and the Sun newspaper - reportedly for a six-figure sum, some of which will go to navy families.
Leading Seaman Turney defended her decision to sell her story and said a percentage of the money would help the crew and families of HMS Cornwall.
"I want everyone out there to know my story from my side, see what I went through," she told ITV's Tonight programme.
The Royal Navy crew were on patrol boats in the Gulf on 23 March when they were detained by Iran's Revolutionary Guard.The Royal Navy crew were on patrol boats in the Gulf on 23 March when they were detained by Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
The Iranians accused the crew of straying into its waters - the British say they were in Iraqi territory.The Iranians accused the crew of straying into its waters - the British say they were in Iraqi territory.
Mr Browne said he wanted to make a statement to the House of Commons on Monday.