Iran To Free UK Captives
Updated: 15:31, Wednesday April 04, 2007

Iran is freeing the 15 UK sailors and marines taken captive in the Shatt al Arab waterway 13 days ago as a "gift" to Britain.

Some have been shown on Iranian TV speaking to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejadk at his palace in the capital Tehran.

Their release was announced by the president who said they would be handed over to the British embassy.

He said he had pardoned the sailors as a gift to the British people and to mark the birthday of Islam's Prophet Mohammed and Easter.

The family of Royal Marine Adam Sperry, 22, hailed the news as "the best present imaginable".

Marine Sperry's brother James said: "I've just told my mum and she's really chuffed."

His uncle, Roy Cooper, said his return would be marked with a party at his local pub in Aylestone, Leicester.

A Downing Street spokeswoman 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."

President Ahmadinejad announced the Britons' release after awarding medals to the "brave" border guards who had arrested them.

"I would like to thank the Iranian coast guard for courgeously defending our Iranian territorial waters," he said.

He then pinned medals on the chests of three Coast Guard officers. The ceremony was performed during a press conference broadcast around the world.

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O'TEDDY BIN-SWIMIN

I had a feeling that would happen... but nonetheless it's a big relief that it did.

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"It's never over... BOY!"
The Tall Man, Phantasm III

But I wonder what took so long.

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America is a melting pot, the people at the bottom get burned while all the scum floats to the top.
- - - Charlie King

I don't know if I'd complain too much about the wait. At least they're back before Easter.

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"It's never over... BOY!"
The Tall Man, Phantasm III

Now is the UN going to take up the issue of piracy? Are arrest warrants going to be issued by european courts, like they were eg for Pinochet? Instead of saying Hurray!, does anyone grasp the games being played by the iranians - especially the british people? What did the british government agree to to get the release?

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Read this post quick before the mods delete it!

One step at a time laddie.
Let's get em home safe, then decide how to progess.

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O'TEDDY BIN-SWIMIN

We were slow to release their diplomat.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/6522113.stm

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Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
Marx (G.)

And it was only yesterday that the 5 Revolutionary guards abducted by the US from an Iranian diplomatic mission were allowed consular access.

"Diplomatic mission." Is this code for assisting the terrorist inurgents?

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All you need to know about the energy crisis:
ANWR Exploration Republicans: 91% Supported. Democrats: 86% Opposed.
Coal-to-liquid R's: 90% YES. D's: 78% NO.
Oil Shale Exploration R's: 90% YES. D's: 86% NO.
Outer Continental Shelf Exploration R's: 81% YES. D's: 83% NO.
Increased Refinery Capacity R's: 97% YES. D's: 96% NO

SUMMARY: 91% of House Republicans have historically voted to increase the production of America’s own oil and gas. 86% of House Democrats have historically voted against.