H
Harry Dope
Guest
UK sailors captured at gunpoint
Fifteen British navy personnel have been captured at gunpoint by
Iranian forces, the Ministry of Defence says.
The men were seized at 1030 local time when they boarded a boat in the
Gulf, off the coast of Iraq, which they suspected was smuggling cars.
The Royal Navy said the group was on a routine patrol in Iraqi waters
and were understood to be unharmed.
But Iranian state television quoted the Iran foreign ministry as
saying they had illegally entered Iranian waters.
The Associated Press news agency is quoting US Navy official,
Commander Kevin Aandahl, as saying that Iran's Revolutionary Guard were
responsible.
Mr Aandahl is also reported as saying the naval force had told them in
a radio message that the British were not harmed.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has demanded the immediate and safe
return of the HMS Cornwall servicemen.
She added that she had called for a "full explanation" from Iran and
had left them in no doubt that she wanted the group and their equipment back
immediately.
The task force's commander, Commodore Nick Lambert, said he was hoping
there had been a "simple mistake" over territorial waters.
"There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that they [British personnel]
were in Iraqi territorial waters. Equally, the Iranians may claim they were
in Iranian territorial waters.
HMS Cornwall's area of operations
"We may well find that this is a simple misunderstanding at the
tactical level."
Helicopters had reported seeing two British boats being moved along
the Shatt al-Arab waterway to Iranian bases and there had been no evidence
of fighting, he added.
He said that despite scant communication, the 15 people were
understood to be safe and had reacted in an "extremely professional way, in
line with the rules of engagement".
Mrs Beckett said: "We understand that they were in two boats that were
operating in Iraqi waters in accordance with the Security Council Resolution
1723 in support of the government of Iraq to stop smuggling."
On Friday afternoon, the Iranian ambassador in London, Rasoul
Movahedian, met permanent secretary, Sir Peter Ricketts, at the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office.
The foreign secretary said the meeting had been "brisk but polite" and
said the British ambassador in Iran had also been speaking to officials in
Tehran.
The MoD said it had contacted relatives of the group, which comprised
eight sailors and seven marines.
There has been no official response so far from Iran, where many
ministries and official buildings were closed for a public holiday.
However, state television has reported that the British envoy was
summoned to Iran's foreign ministry.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague and Sir Menzies Campbell,
leader of the Liberal Democrats, have both backed the call for the group's
immediate and safe return.
The incident comes at a time of renewed tensions with Iran over its
nuclear programme and follows claims that most of the violence against UK
forces in Basra is being engineered by Iranian elements.
British army Colonel Justin Maciejewski, who is based in Iraq, said
Iran was providing "sophisticated weaponry" to insurgents and "Iranian
agents" were paying local men to attack British troops.
Iranian officials have in the past denied such claims.
In 2004, Iran detained eight British servicemen for three days after
they allegedly strayed over the maritime border.
The UK claimed the men were "forcibly escorted" into Iranian
territorial waters.
The men were paraded blindfolded and made to apologise on Iranian TV
before their release was agreed.
The BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said the difference
this time was that the present Iranian government under President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad was much more hardline.
"The political climate is worse with Britain among those confronting
Iran over its controversial nuclear programme," he added.
--
At Vanderbilt divinity school, Mr. Gore took a course in theology and
natural science. The assigned readings included the apocalyptic, and widely
discredited "Limits to Growth," which formed much of the foundation for
"Earth in the Balance." It is said that Mr. Gore failed to hand in his book
report on time. Thus, his incomplete grade turned into an F, one of five Fs
Mr. Gore received at divinity school, which may well be a worldwide record.
Fifteen British navy personnel have been captured at gunpoint by
Iranian forces, the Ministry of Defence says.
The men were seized at 1030 local time when they boarded a boat in the
Gulf, off the coast of Iraq, which they suspected was smuggling cars.
The Royal Navy said the group was on a routine patrol in Iraqi waters
and were understood to be unharmed.
But Iranian state television quoted the Iran foreign ministry as
saying they had illegally entered Iranian waters.
The Associated Press news agency is quoting US Navy official,
Commander Kevin Aandahl, as saying that Iran's Revolutionary Guard were
responsible.
Mr Aandahl is also reported as saying the naval force had told them in
a radio message that the British were not harmed.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has demanded the immediate and safe
return of the HMS Cornwall servicemen.
She added that she had called for a "full explanation" from Iran and
had left them in no doubt that she wanted the group and their equipment back
immediately.
The task force's commander, Commodore Nick Lambert, said he was hoping
there had been a "simple mistake" over territorial waters.
"There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that they [British personnel]
were in Iraqi territorial waters. Equally, the Iranians may claim they were
in Iranian territorial waters.
HMS Cornwall's area of operations
"We may well find that this is a simple misunderstanding at the
tactical level."
Helicopters had reported seeing two British boats being moved along
the Shatt al-Arab waterway to Iranian bases and there had been no evidence
of fighting, he added.
He said that despite scant communication, the 15 people were
understood to be safe and had reacted in an "extremely professional way, in
line with the rules of engagement".
Mrs Beckett said: "We understand that they were in two boats that were
operating in Iraqi waters in accordance with the Security Council Resolution
1723 in support of the government of Iraq to stop smuggling."
On Friday afternoon, the Iranian ambassador in London, Rasoul
Movahedian, met permanent secretary, Sir Peter Ricketts, at the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office.
The foreign secretary said the meeting had been "brisk but polite" and
said the British ambassador in Iran had also been speaking to officials in
Tehran.
The MoD said it had contacted relatives of the group, which comprised
eight sailors and seven marines.
There has been no official response so far from Iran, where many
ministries and official buildings were closed for a public holiday.
However, state television has reported that the British envoy was
summoned to Iran's foreign ministry.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague and Sir Menzies Campbell,
leader of the Liberal Democrats, have both backed the call for the group's
immediate and safe return.
The incident comes at a time of renewed tensions with Iran over its
nuclear programme and follows claims that most of the violence against UK
forces in Basra is being engineered by Iranian elements.
British army Colonel Justin Maciejewski, who is based in Iraq, said
Iran was providing "sophisticated weaponry" to insurgents and "Iranian
agents" were paying local men to attack British troops.
Iranian officials have in the past denied such claims.
In 2004, Iran detained eight British servicemen for three days after
they allegedly strayed over the maritime border.
The UK claimed the men were "forcibly escorted" into Iranian
territorial waters.
The men were paraded blindfolded and made to apologise on Iranian TV
before their release was agreed.
The BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said the difference
this time was that the present Iranian government under President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad was much more hardline.
"The political climate is worse with Britain among those confronting
Iran over its controversial nuclear programme," he added.
--
At Vanderbilt divinity school, Mr. Gore took a course in theology and
natural science. The assigned readings included the apocalyptic, and widely
discredited "Limits to Growth," which formed much of the foundation for
"Earth in the Balance." It is said that Mr. Gore failed to hand in his book
report on time. Thus, his incomplete grade turned into an F, one of five Fs
Mr. Gore received at divinity school, which may well be a worldwide record.
