Freed Brits can sell story

2007-04-08 09:01

London - The 15 British sailors and marines who spent two weeks in Iranian captivity have been given permission to sell their stories to the media, it was announced on Saturday.

But the highly unusual decision, announced by the ministry of defence, was immediately attacked by one retired senior military figure, who claimed that it would play into Iran's hands.

A ministry spokesperson said that its ban on serving personnel entering into financial agreements with media organisations was being relaxed because of the highly unusual situation.

"In exceptional circumstances such as the awarding of a Victoria Cross (the forces' top valour award) or events such as those in recent days, permission can be granted by commanding officers and the ministry of defence," she said.

"That's what has happened here."

She said there had been "considerable media interest" in buying the groups' stories but could not confirm whether any deals had yet been struck.

Colonel Bob Stewart, a former senior British army commander, said he was "gobsmacked" by the decision.

"This is hardly one of the most glorious annals of Royal Naval history," he told BBC television.

"We're glorifying something that we would hope would be fish and chip paper next week."

Asked what he thought the Iranians would make of the decision, he added: "I think they'll think we're totally mad, we've gone ballistically silly about it and they will probably think: 'I'm glad we got rid of them because they're self-destructing without us having to do anything.'"

The 15 were dramatically freed by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday and flew back to Britain on Thursday.

Despite television pictures of the group laughing and joking during their time in Iran, they told a press conference Friday that they had been ill-treated.

But Iran claims that the allegations were made under official pressure.

"The mistreatment of the sailors is a lie," said Ali Akbar Javanfekr, top press spokesman for Ahmadinejad.

"The British authorities should know that they cannot keep hiding the truth from the British people," he said, adding that London was "seeking to improve their situation and and diminish the pressure of public opinion."

The party was captured in the northern Gulf on March 23. Iran claims they were in Iranian waters, but Britain insists they were in the Iraqi zone.

Newspapers are likely to be most keen to secure the first interview with Leading Seaman Faye Turney, 26, the only woman in the party and a married mother-of-one.

She became the focus of human interest stories about the situation and was singled out by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who criticised Britain for sending a woman on active service.

- AFP