U.N. Calls On Iran To Free Britons
Security Council Expresses "Grave Concern" Over Capture Of British Sailors, Calls For Early Resolution
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Play CBS Video Video Iran, U.K. Crisis Escalates Diplomatic wiggle room to arrange for a return of British soldiers and marines detained by Iran is shrinking as leaders of both countries take a hard line. Elizabeth Palmer reports.
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Video Outrage Over U.K. Troop Video Iran released a video of the 15 captured British troops, showing one captive confessing to trespassing into its waters. Elizabeth Palmer reports on the British government's angry response.
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Video Persian Gulf Hostage Crisis Former CIA officer Bruce Riedel tells David Martin that Iran's seizure of British sailors and marines is an "in your face" move in response to tighter U.S. and U.N. actions against Tehran.
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An Iranian protester holds a banner during a protest in front of the Iran's Foreign Ministry in Tehran on March 29, 2007. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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In an image provided by the British Ministry of Defence on March 28, 2007, a GPS device shows the location of the incident involving 15 U.K. service members as seen from a Royal Navy helicopter over the merchant vessel in the Shatt al-Arab waterway on March 25. (CBS/British Ministry of Defence)
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Britain's Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett, left, speaks to the media after talks with her Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, right, in Ankara on March 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
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Iran's ambassador to the U.K., Rasul Mouahedian-Attar, left, arrives at the Foreign Office in London on March 26, 2007. Prime Minister Tony Blair's office sought to calm fears that a dispute over the capture of a British navy crew would deepen tensions between Tehran and the West. (AP)
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Fast Facts Iran Learn about the people, economy and history.
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Fast Facts United Kingdom Learn about the people, economy and history.
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Timeline Iran Nuclear Chronology Events in development of Iran's nuclear program since it first came to light.
"What you can't do is end up negotiating over hostages; end up saying there's some quid pro quo or tit for tat; that's not acceptable," he said.
Blair's office dismissed a suggestion by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki that Britain should resolve the crisis by admitting that its personnel had made a "mistake" and crossed into Iranian waters.
Mottaki had said Wednesday that Turney would be released within 48 hours. Britain said it was halting all discussion with Iran except negotiations to free the sailors, and expressed outrage over Iran's broadcast of images of the captives.
Top Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani said on Iranian state radio that "British leaders have miscalculated this issue."
If Britain follows through with its policies toward Iran, Larijani said "this case may face a legal path," a clear reference to Iran's prosecuting the sailors in court.
Blair's official spokesman said Britain wanted to resolve the crisis quickly and without having a "confrontation over this."
"We are not seeking to put Iran in a corner. We are simply saying, 'Please release the personnel who should not have been seized in the first place,"' said the spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government policy.
But in a briefing to reporters, the spokesman said British officials had been angered by Tehran's decision to show the captives on Iranian television.
"Nobody should be put in that position. It is an impossible position to be put in," he said. "It is wrong. It is wrong in terms of the usual conventions that cover this. It is wrong in terms of basic humanity."
Beckett said there were "grave concerns about the circumstances in which it was prepared and issued. This blatant attempt to use Leading Seaman Turney for propaganda purposes is outrageous and cruel."
In the video broadcast Wednesday on Iran's Arab-language satellite channel, Turney said her group had "trespassed" in Iranian waters. The segment showed her wearing a black head scarf, sitting in a room before floral curtains and smoking a cigarette.
"Obviously we trespassed into their waters," Turney said. "They were very friendly and very hospitable, very thoughtful, nice people. They explained to us why we've been arrested. There was no harm, no aggression."
In Thursday's video from Iran that was shown on Sky News, another letter apparently written by Turney called for withdrawal of British troops from Iraq.
The letter asked British lawmakers: "Isn't it time to start withdrawing our forces from Iraq and let them determine their own future?"
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
- Bush and Blair want war with Iran but due to lack of voter support need to antagonize Iran into a 'justifiable' scurmish. You brown shirts supporting Bush went to Publik Skools didnt you!
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- So what if what you claim is true. The Iranians were well aware of what the British were doing. Why would they take such extreme measures in such a dramatic fashion. Could they not have approached the Brits in the water and warned them that if they were caught there again, they would be captured or even shot at.
No such tact on the part of the Iranians. All this has done is put the British Navy on alert and if Iran tries anything again they will be blown out of the water and a worse crisis will erupt.
Iran is pathetic, its government is pathetic, and its methods are pathetic. I have more respect for African Bushmen. They are way more diplomatic and honest. - Reply to this comment
- I noticed the borders that UK is showing for Iran/Iraq are fake - after looking at Iranian news, my suspicions came out to be quite true. The british are deliberately re-drawing the Iran-Iraq border on their own maps and they are convinced that the Arabs will support them in this because after all the borders are to the benifit of the arabs at the expense of Iranian territory. Story below:
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-20/0703298425171510.htm - Reply to this comment
- I noticed the borders that UK is showing for Iran/Iraq are fake - after looking at Iranian news, my suspicions came out to be quite true. The british are deliberately re-drawing the Iran-Iraq border on their own maps and they are convinced that the Arabs will support them in this because after all the borders are to the benifit of the arabs at the expense of Iranian territory. Story below:
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-20/0703298425171510.htm - Reply to this comment
- Iranian news - slanted but at least it's free of western Jewrnalism: http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-20
/0703298425171510.htm - Reply to this comment
- Maybe it's because the UN wouldn't move its HQ to Mecca.
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- Does anyone have any info on why AHMADINEJAD was not at the UN last week?
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- Thanks for the response, tbweb I almost gave up hope.
I think that without Russia and China and the extremist muslims' support, Iran would be less emboldened.
But the real reason has more to do with desperation.
The Iranian people will think their govt is stronger after they capture Brits.
This takes their minds off the increasing day-to-day problems that aren't being helped by increasing sanctions and the threat of only more sanctions down the road.
This takes the focus off Iranian govt's inadequacies and shows that they have no fear of the west.
Gets a lot of media attention for them so they all feel like Islam is getting the attention it deserves.
Makes the west look weak.
Causes division in the UN. - Reply to this comment
- If the intention is to secure the release of the "detainees," the UK will have to use ground forces.
Bombs and missiles are not particularly effective when it comes to "detainee" rescues.
I wonder how many Brits are at the recruiting offices signing up for the military so they can help rescue the "detainees"? - Reply to this comment
- Iran is demonstrating the "Bush doctrine."
The "Bush doctrine" states that any nation (or anyone) can ignore the law if the law prevents him from doing whatever he wants.
It appears that Blair no longer supports the "Bush doctrine."
If the "Bush doctrine" is a (legally) valid doctrine, why hasn't the UK invaded Iran?
Why bother whining about "meaningless UN resolutions"? - Reply to this comment
Author Thomas Friedman on Obama's Afghanistan plan and the war on terror.




