Brit sailors 'well cared for'
2004-06-24 20:23
London - Eight British servicemen released on Thursday after being held by Iranian authorities for three days are "in very good spirits" and were "well cared for" Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said.
Speaking to reporters on his way into a cabinet meeting, Straw confirmed that the six Royal Marines and two Royal Navy sailors were en route to Tehran, accompanied by British diplomats.
"We are pleased that they have been released," he said outside Downing Street. "I'm told they are in very good spirits and were well cared for."
The group, who Britain says were involved in training Iraqi river patrols, were detained by Revolutionary Guards on Monday after their three boats apparently strayed onto the Iranian side of the Shatt al-Arab waterway.
Straw said: "We have now had confirmation from our officials in Iran that the eight British servicemen have been handed into British care."
"At the moment, I understand they are on an aeroplane from the south of the country to Tehran and they will then hopefully be taken to the British embassy compound in the centre of Tehran" he said.
"I'm obviously very pleased indeed, as, I know, their families and service colleagues will be, that they are now in British care."
A British diplomat said in Tehran that the eight touched down in the Iranian capital at 10:00 on a flight from the southwest of the country.