Standoff: Iranians Picket U.K. Embassy

Protestors Toss Rocks, Firecrackers At Compound, Demand British Ambassador Be Expelled

(AP)  Hundreds of students threw rocks and firecrackers at the British Embassy on Sunday, calling for the expulsion of the country's ambassador because of the standoff over Iran's capture of 15 British sailors and marines.

The demonstration stood in stark contrast to statements made Sunday by British government officials that they were looking for new ways to resolve the crisis peacefully.

Several dozen policemen prevented the protesters from entering the embassy compound, although a few briefly scaled a fence outside the facility's walls before being pushed back, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene.

The protesters chanted "Death to Britain" and "Death to America" as they hurled stones into the courtyard of the embassy. They also shouted "the British spies should be tried."

In speeches made before the students turned on the compound, they demanded the Iranian government expel the British ambassador and close down the embassy, calling it a "den of spies."

They also advised Tehran not to release Faye Turney, the lone female sailor held captive, or show any flexibility until the British apologized for violating Iran's borders.

Also on Sunday, Iran's official Arabic-language television channel aired short video clips of what it said were two of the 15 captured British sailors who in the footage pointed to a map of the Persian Gulf.

Government-run Al-Alam TV said the two sailors were identifying where their boat crossed into Iranian waters on March 23, leading to their capture.

The two soldiers, who appeared in separate video clips wearing military fatigues and pointing at the same map, were talking to a camera, but Al-Alam did not air their voices.

Instead, the newscaster said the two "have confessed" to trespassing into Iranian waters "illegally." The newscaster also gave more details about the incident, saying the 15 left their ship in a small boat in the morning of March 23 and entered the Iranian waters at 10 a.m. local time.

The TV broadcast also said the captured sailors have said that they are receiving "good and humanitarian treatment."

Earlier Sunday, Al Allam reported without quoting any officials by name that two U.S. airplanes had violated Iranian air space. But a U.S. military spokesman, Air Force Lt. Col. Mike Pierson, said there were no reports of any U.S. aircraft violating Iranian airspace.

Britain and Iran are at a standoff over eight British sailors and seven marines who were detained by Iranian naval units on March 23 while patrolling for smugglers near the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab, a waterway that has long been a disputed dividing line between Iraq and Iran.

Britain said they were in Iraqi waters when detained, but Iran has contended the Britons entered its waters illegally.

A British Foreign Office spokeswoman in London, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government rules, said the demonstration had not caused damage to the embassy and diplomats inside continued to work.

"There is a police presence outside and there is no risk to those inside," said the spokeswoman.

Before the protest took place, British government officials said they were examining new options for dialogue with Tehran, but refused to discuss a report by the Sunday Telegraph newspaper that a naval officer would be sent to Tehran as a special envoy to negotiate the return of the personnel.

The report claimed the official would deliver an assurance that British naval crews would never deliberately enter Iranian waters without permission.

Transport Minister Douglas Alexander told the British Broadcasting Corp.'s Sunday AM program that Britain was engaged in "exploring the potential for dialogue with the Iranians."

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett appeared to soften rhetoric against Iran Saturday — though she stopped far short of the apology sought by many in Iran.

"I think everyone regrets that this position has arisen," Beckett said in Bremen, Germany, before returning to England. "What we want is a way out of it."

Also Sunday, Terry Waite, a British negotiator who spent almost five years as a hostage in Lebanon, said he planned to propose in writing on Monday a plan to travel to Iran to help free the British naval personnel.

Waite told CNN's "Late Edition" that he has not heard any reaction from British officials to his proposal and said he hoped to travel as part of a humanitarian mission.

"I think it would be very important that the trip is seen to be exclusively a humanitarian endeavor, not in any way financed by the government," he said.

Recent comments made by U.S. President George W. Bush and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have used a more confrontational tone.

Bush on Saturday called for the release of the sailors and marines, labeling their capture "inexcusable behavior."

"Iran must give back the hostages," Bush said. "They're innocent, they did nothing wrong, and they were summarily plucked out of waters."

Also on Saturday, Ahmadinejad called world powers "arrogant" for refusing to apologize.

"Instead of apologizing over trespassing by British forces, the world arrogant powers issue statements and deliver speeches," Iran's official IRNA news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying during a speech in the southeastern city of Andinmeshk.

[elgraz]

I'm back oh noble people. What's happening this a.m. in el mundo loco? Another crisis?

[swwils]

I keep telling everyone ,if the British don't handle this they will have what we Americans had during the Carter administration pandamonium is already happening.Political deplomacy is not an option anymore,these people are shouting death to the British that is not cool.This is all going to boil over into our laps!

[tucson23]

There is an amusing side to this story...the coordinates the Iranians claim as the site of the capture are clearly in Iraqi waters. They couldn't even get their story straight.

Here's what's going on here: Ahmadinejad wants to avoid sanctions over his nuclear program, and the U.N. has recently ruled against him. He figures if he takes some hostages while the militaries of the U.S. and Britain are not able to start a new war, he would have a safe chance to negotiate his way out of some of the sanctions. Knowing the British, it's probably a good bet it will work for him.

And BTW feelfree1, it was widely reported a few months ago that Ahmadinejad faces some strong opposition in his own country. Do a Google search or something.

jn4ggs wrote:

"ahmedinajad has successfully fooled only his own people. he wants the US and britain to attack, that will unite his people (who are now not very supportive) behind him."

Hmmmm. "...successfully fooled only his own people...will unite his people (who are now not very supportive) behind him...".

You could be talking about Bush as well.

[feelfree1]

jn4ggs,

Re: "ahmedinajad is loosing support"

That is the first time that I have heard this claim. Do you have a source for this?
+

If Blair were a bigger man, he could simply apologise for this provocation, or "mistake", and this would be over quickly, easily, and honorably.

Of course Blair/Bush/Israel don't want this situation to be resolved, because they are hoping to manufacture a pre-text for waging an illegal war of aggression against Iran. One way or another, they will find some excuse to attack Iran. This is obvious.

[jn4ggs]

"How many more must be sacrificed? How many more deaths, how many more torture victims, will satisfy the bloodthirsty cowards and crooks that have siezed control of our country?"

there are people in iran saying the exact same thing, ahmedinajad is loosing support. the people of iran watch the news, they know that bush no longer has the support of his people. never in history have 2 democratic nations gone to war, this is because wars are never between 2 peoples, only between the leaders of those peoples. i pray that the people of iran have the wisdom to see this.

[jn4ggs]

ahmedinajad has successfully fooled only his own people. he wants the US and britain to attack, that will unite his people (who are now not very supportive) behind him. then he will have the support of his people to develope the bomb. we should not play into his hands by attacking. it would be better to use the 2 battle groups to shut down the ports including oil tankers. this will affect oil markets but no more than air strikes. it will further isolate iran while increasing economic pressure. the people on iran dont want conflict, they just want to live their lives, they are tired of the bleak economic situation and the recent sanctions are working. the people of iran will not suffer on a daily basis so that their leader can get the bomb but if they are attacked they will fight to the last. the regime is under significant pressure due to the sanctions and that pressure will guarantee he will loose the next election. he is trying to force our hand, please, bush for once, use your head. i will be willing to forgive all your horrible misdeeds if you just dont f this up

[feelfree1]

How many more must be sacrificed? How many more deaths, how many more torture victims, will satisfy the bloodthirsty cowards and crooks that have siezed control of our country?

[hillaryin08]

They should send Jimmy Carter in there to take care of this, or boycott the olympics! That will scare them!

[vinncent-2009]

The worst possible outcome of this would be Britain caving to Iran with a meek, supplicant statement that begs the return of their soldiers and promises to obey Iranian edicts on the open seas. And it's starting to look like that's exactly what will happen.

I hope I'm wrong.