Britain rejects Iranian claims of 'confessions'
Apr 2, 2007 - 5:11:50 PM
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The footage showed the two men, named as Royal Marine Captain Chris Air and Lieutenant Felix Carman, standing in front of a map of the Persian Gulf, stating that they had been shown computer records confirming that they had been seized inside Iranian waters.
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By DPA,
[RxPG] London/Tehran, April 2 - All 15 British naval personnel captured by Iran have confessed to illegally entering Iranian waters when they were seized, Iran state TV channel Al Alam claimed Monday.
However, the claim was immediately rejected by the Foreign Office in London, which reiterated its position that the sailors and marines were in Iraqi waters in the Shatt-al-Arab when they were captured on March 23.
'We can only reiterate our position. They've been detained against their will, we have not had consular access, we have made it quite clear they were seized in Iraqi waters and we want them released,' a statement said.
The new claim from Tehran followed the screening of new footage on Iranian television in which one of two senior personnel 'confessed' to trespassing into Iranian waters.
The footage showed the two men, named as Royal Marine Captain Chris Air and Lieutenant Felix Carman, standing in front of a map of the Persian Gulf, stating that they had been shown computer records confirming that they had been seized inside Iranian waters.
The Foreign Office spokesman condemned the footage as 'unacceptable,' while sources in London said that diplomatic efforts to secure the release of the 14 men and one woman were continuing.
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