Iran Branded 'Cruel' After Release of Captured Sailor's Letter Criticising UK Diplomatic Crisis Deep

Mar 30, 07:52 AM

Current Headlines: By MICHAEL SETTLE CHIEF UK POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

DOWNING Street last night branded as "cruel and callous" Iran's treatment of Faye Turney after its London embassy released a second letter, supposedly from the captured sailor, linking deepening diplomatic crisis to the Iraq conflict.

Addressed to "representatives of the House of Commons", it read: "Isn't it time to start withdrawing our forces from Iraq and let them determine their own future?" The release of the handwritten note will increase concerns the 26-year-old Leading Seaman is being placed under duress. A No 10 spokesman said: "It is cruel and callous to do this to someone in this position, and to play games like this is a disgrace."

Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council expressed "grave concern" yesterday at Iran's detention of the British sailors and Marines and asked for their release.

In a press statement, negotiated for hours and watered down considerably from the original British draft, the 15member body called for an "early resolution of this problem" and appealed to Iran to allow consular access.

Iran immediately responded by saying the council statement was "not helpful."

As the diplomatic row intensified with stronger rhetoric on both sides, Ms Turney today enters a second week of captivity along with her 14 comrades whose whereabouts and state of health are still not known.

Last night Tony Blair condemned Iran's treatment of Ms Turney, saying the parading of her on Iranian state television was "a disgrace".

"It's completely wrong? when people are used in that way. That's contrary to all international laws and conventions and is not going to make any difference to us, " he said. The Prime Minister demanded the "unconditional release" of the 15 British sailors, making clear he would not start "negotiating over hostages".

Earlier, Ali Larijani, the hardline secretary of Iran's supreme national security council, backtracked on a previous promise to free Ms Turney, a mother of three-year-old Molly, because of Britain's "inappropriate behaviour".

He told Iranian state radio: "They have created a ballyhoo over diplomatic ties and raised the issue with the UN. This will not help solve the issue. The British leaders are miscalculating the case."

In Riyadh, at an Arab summit, Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General, spoke to Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran's Foreign Minister, calling for an early resolution to the diplomatic crisis. Already the US and EU have called on Iran to free the British sailors. Yesterday, the French government called in the Iranian ambassador in Paris to do the same.

In Iraq, Mohammed Ridha Nasir Baghban, the Iranian consul in Basra, sought to link an incident in the southern city with the diplomatic row, claiming British soldiers surrounded his office and fired shots.

He said it was a "provocative act" that "could worsen the situation of the British sailors".

However, the Ministry of Defence insisted the shooting was an exchange of gunfire after British troops were ambushed near the consulate. In Tehran, protesters surrounded the British embassy calling for the 15 seized sailors to be executed.

(c) 2007 Herald, The; Glasgow (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.