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| The 15 British sailors and marines on the way home... http://www.bbfans.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=29973 |
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| Author: | Madeline [ 04 Apr 07, 19:17 ] |
| Post subject: | The 15 British sailors and marines on the way home... |
Relief At Freedom For 15 Skymews |
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| Author: | Madeline [ 04 Apr 07, 19:19 ] |
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IRAN TO FREE SAILORS By Mirror.co.uk 04/04/2007 PRESIDENT Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today said he will release the 15 British naval personnel who "trespassed" into Iranian waters. The group, who were said to "shout for joy" at the news, will be handed to the British Embassy in Tehran and could fly home tomorrow. The controversial leader maintained his country’s stance that the British sailors and marines had "invaded" Iranian waters, but said that they would be “forgiven” and freed as a "gift" to Britain. Downing Street insists the 15 were in Iraqi waters under a UN mandate. A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said: "We welcome what the President has said about the release of our 15 personnel. "We are now establishing exactly what this means in terms of the method and timing of their release." Ahmadinejad made the announcement during a news conference marking the Persian New Year. During the briefing he also awarded medals to the commanders who captured the British personnel in the Gulf and criticised the US-led invasion of Iraq and Israel's war in Lebanon. Condemning the countries he said were behind "misery" and "destruction" in the world, he said there did not appear to be anyone "to stand up and defend the rights of those oppressed". Ahmadinejad later went on to further criticise the invasion of Iraq, saying that even though no weapons of mass destruction had been found in the country "occupation forces were contining to stay there and people were still being killed". mirror |
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| Author: | Madeline [ 04 Apr 07, 19:31 ] |
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Blair maintains diplomatic tone 04/04/2007 - 17:36:01 The release of the 15 captured British personnel will come as a "profound relief" to their families, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said today. He said the loved ones of the sailors and marines held by Iran had endured "distress and anxiety". The premier stressed Britain had taken a "firm but calm" approach to dealing with the Tehran regime. Speaking in Downing Street, Mr Blair said: "I'm glad that our 15 service personnel have been released. I know their release will come as a profound relief not just to them but to their families who have endured such distress and anxiety. "Throughout we have taken a measured approach - firm but calm, not negotiating, but not confronting either." "I would like to thank our allies in Europe, our allies in the UN Security Council, for their support and also our friends and allies in the region who played their part. "We're grateful to all of them, as we are to the officials in the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence and here in Downing Street for the work that they have done." braekingnews |
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