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British sailors on way home from Iran |
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Thursday, 05 April 2007 |
 The 15 British sailors and marines who have been held by Iran for the past 13 days have boarded a flight to London at Tehran airport. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a news conference broadcast round the world earlier that he had decided to forgive and pardon the group in what he termed "a gift to the British people".
Iranian state television later broadcast footage of
Ahmadinejad talking with the sailors. The Royal Navy personnel were
seized on March 23 in the Shatt al-Arab waterway between Iraq and Iran.
Iran maintained the sailors were in Iranian waters, a charge
strenuously denied by Britain.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has welcomed the release of the 15
British detainees and acknowledged the assistance of the United Nations
and regional allies. The European Union has also welcomed the move.
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany, which holds the
EU's rotating presidency, said he hoped it was a sign that Iran may be
willing to compromise on other issues such as its disputed nuclear
programme.
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