03-28-2007, 06:37 PM
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Banned
Guru
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,152
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UK/Iran bilateral links suspended
Quote:
UK/Iran bilateral links suspended
The sailors' ship, HMS Cornwall, patrols Iraqi territorial waters
The UK government has suspended bilateral relationships with Iran until a dispute over the seizure of British sailors from Iraqi waters is resolved.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett told MPs that diplomatic efforts were continuing with Iranian officials to release the 15 navy personnel.
However, other business has been suspended, with "aspects of our policy towards Iran under close review".
Iran seized the personnel five days ago, saying they were in their waters.
Earlier the Ministry of Defence had shown satellite data which it said proved the personnel were 1.7 nautical miles inside Iraqi waters when they were seized.
Vice Admiral Charles Style said the sailors had been "ambushed" after the search of a vessel and that their detention was "unjustified and wrong".
Mrs Beckett, making a statement to the House of Commons on Wednesday, repeated the prime minister's position that the situation had reached "a different phase".
"That is why MoD have today released details of the incident and why I have concluded that we need to focus all our bilateral efforts during this phase to resolution of this issue.
"We will, therefore be imposing a freeze on all other official bilateral business with Iran until this situation is resolved."
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6503211.stm
IOW the UK has suspedned most Diplmatic relations with Iran.
Quote:
Captives Paraded On TV
Updated: 23:48, Wednesday March 28, 2007
Footage of the 15 British sailors and marines being held in Iran has been aired by Iranian TV.
The video shows the group being arrested, eating food in captivity and carries an interview with Leading Seaman Faye Turney
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http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...257880,00.html
Quote:
Iran: Britain Must Admit Navy Trespassed
Mar 28 07:37 PM US/Eastern
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's foreign minister said Wednesday that Britain must admit that its 15 sailors and marines entered Iranian waters in order to resolve a standoff over their capture by Iranian authorities.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki's announcement came on a day of escalating tensions, highlighted by an Iranian video of the detained Britons that showed the only woman captive saying her group had "trespassed" in Iranian waters. Britain angrily denounced the video as unacceptable and froze most dealings with the mideast nation.
"First they have to admit that they have made a mistake. Admitting the mistake will facilitate a solution to the problem," Mottaki told The Associated Press in an interview in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. "But unfortunately the British have not admitted their mistake."
Mottaki also backed off a prediction that the female sailor, Faye Turney, could be freed Wednesday or Thursday, but said Tehran agreed to allow British officials to meet with service personnel.
His comments were the first confirmation that Iran agreed to a British request for a consular visit with the crew, though he did not specify when. Iran has not said where the 15 are being held.
"We have accepted that (the British request), there is no problem. Measures are underway (to arrange meeting.) They can meet them," he said.
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http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1
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