Iran:Britain has been in direct communication with Iran as it seeks the release of 15 detained sailors and marines, while protesters in Tehran yesterday hurled stones and firecrackers at the British embassy.
Iranian television yesterday showed pictures of two of the sailors and said they admitted that they were captured after entering Iranian waters.
State-run Al-Alam television showed footage of the two men in khaki uniforms standing in front of a large map of the Gulf, and pointing to it while looking into the camera. Their remarks could not be heard.
The station said the two gave a detailed account of how they entered Iranian waters while on an inspection mission. The television said the pair said they were treated well.
Footage of a sailor apologising for entering Iranian waters was broadcast on Friday.
Iran's capture of the sailors and marines has drawn international criticism. Tehran has ignored calls to release the 14 men and one woman, saying Britain must admit they illegally entered Iranian waters.
Britain insists they were in Iraqi territory when seized.
The row, at a time of heightened Middle East tensions over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme, pushed oil prices last week to six-month highs.
The West accuses Iran of trying to build nuclear bombs, a charge Tehran denies.
British defence secretary Des Browne yesterday said that diplomatic efforts were continuing to resolve the crisis.
"We are anxious that this matter be resolved as quickly as possible and that it be resolved by diplomatic means and we are bending every single effort to that," he told BBC television. "It's not my intention to go through the detail of that blow by blow, and it wouldn't be appropriate to do that, but we are in direct bilateral communication with the Iranians."
In Tehran, about 200 demonstrators chanted: "British, British, death to you, death to you" at Britain's embassy.
Protesters threw firecrackers into the embassy compound. No one was hurt by the small explosive devices, which went off with loud bangs and sent clouds of smoke rising into the air. Demonstrators, who scuffled with police, included members of the Basij, a hardline religious militia.
US president George W Bush on Saturday called on Iran to release the 15 at once.
"The Iranians must give back the hostages. They're innocent," he said. "The Iranians took these people out of Iraqi waters. It's inexcusable behaviour."
Mr Bush's use of the term "hostages" evoked the storming of the US embassy in Tehran after the 1979 Islamic revolution and the holding of 52 Americans for 444 days. Washington broke off relations as a result.
Responding to Mr Bush's comments, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said the United States could damage the British cause, the Iranian state TV website reported.
"Any comments by Americans in support of the British government could make the situation worse, therefore it is better if the American president does not make non-technical, ill-considered and illogical comments," Mr Hosseini said.
Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel, holder of the European Union presidency, also demanded the sailors' release.
Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki was quoted on state television as saying: "Iran is waiting for a change of behaviour by Britain and a balanced stance by this country over our legal demands."
He did not outline the demands but, in a speech on Saturday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Britain should have apologised. He has also accused London of not following "the legal or logical way" in the dispute. Iran and Britain have exchanged diplomatic notes on the incident in the last few days, but their content is unknown.
Britain's Sunday Telegraphnewspaper reported that Britain would be prepared to give Iran guarantees that the Royal Navy would not knowingly enter Iranian waters without permission.
But Britain would not apologise or say its boats entered Iran's waters, the report said.
- (Reuters)