Britain has dismissed earlier televised confessions

The Bulgarian Post
2007-04-02 10:02:55

Iranian television showed new footage of 15 detained British naval personnel, saying they had all admitted to entering Iran illegally and Tehran saw a shift in British policy that could help resolve the standoff.

Talk of a shift in Britain's approach, which has so far been heavily criticized by Iran, marks a softening in Tehran's tone in the crisis that has heightened tensions that already surround Iran's nuclear standoff with the West and pushed up oil prices, Reuters news agency reported.

Iran has earlier aired "confessions" of four of the sailors and marines, footage condemned by Britain which says they were in Iraqi waters when they were seized on March 23. The new images showed other members of the group talking to camera but their voices could not be heard.

In a commentary accompanying the new images, the television report said: "It seems that Britain has shifted a little bit from its stance in the last one or two days over the undeniable facts and from some of its clamor. If this path continues, one can hope that the issue would be resolved in a bilateral process and far away from fuss and clamor and with achieving Iran's logical demands."

The report did not give details of Britain's shift in policy but London said on Sunday it was in direct communication with Iran. British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said on Saturday "everyone regrets that this position has arisen".

The report did not give details of Britain's shift in policy. London said on Sunday it was in direct communication with Iran. British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said on Saturday "everyone regrets that this position has arisen". Britain's ambassador to Tehran, Geoffrey Adams, has met Iranian Foreign Ministry officials most days since the crisis started. He was expected to have another meeting on Monday.

Iran's ISNA news agency earlier said Iran had more film of the Britons but "details of the interviews" would not be shown because of Britain's policy shift, which could explain why the new footage was aired in brief snippets without sound.

The footage included showing two men in blue uniforms speaking to camera. It showed another image of three sitting in a line talking, in khaki uniforms and in front of a map. Another image showed a man in uniform apparently laughing. Britain has dismissed earlier televised "confessions".

"The Iranians know our position. They know stage-managed TV appearances are not going to affect that position," the spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair said, adding that London was awaiting Tehran's response after an exchange of diplomatic notes. "There's a lot going on behind the scenes," he said without further explanation.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said Britain should have apologized. Iranian officials have also criticized Britain for taking the issue to the United Nations, where the Security Council expressed "grave concern" about the case.

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