Monday, April 09, 2007
Iran airs new video of British sailors
Iran, U.K., Security
(AP) - Iranian television broadcast video footage Sunday showing a British navy crew playing chess and watching television during their nearly two-week captivity in Iran, saying the footage refutes the sailors' and marines' claims that they were mistreated. Crew members told reporters two days ago after returning to Britain that they had been blindfolded, held in isolation, frightened and coerced into falsely saying that they had entered Iranian waters before they were seized.
Some of the video clips, briefly aired on Iran's state-run Arabic satellite TV channel Al-Alam, showed several of the eight sailors and seven marines dressed in track suits and playing chess and table tennis. Other clips showed crew members watching soccer on television and eating at a long table decorated with flowers. Crew members could be heard laughing and chatting.
A newscaster who spoke over the beginning of the footage said the video proved "the sailors had complete liberty during their detention, which contradicts what the sailors declared after they arrived in Britain." On Friday, Lt. Felix Carman, who was in charge of the crew when it was captured March 23, said the sailors and marines were only allowed to socialize for the benefit of the Iranian media. "We were kept in isolation until the last few nights, when we were allowed to get together for a few hours, in the full glare of the Iranian media," Carman said at a news conference. "But that was very much a setup, very much a stunt for Iranian propaganda."
The crew members also insisted that they were in Iraqi waters when they were seized. Iran dismissed the sailors' news conference as propaganda. Two days before their release, Tehran had pledged not to show more video of the captured crew. The British Foreign Office did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment Sunday.
Some of the video clips, briefly aired on Iran's state-run Arabic satellite TV channel Al-Alam, showed several of the eight sailors and seven marines dressed in track suits and playing chess and table tennis. Other clips showed crew members watching soccer on television and eating at a long table decorated with flowers. Crew members could be heard laughing and chatting.
A newscaster who spoke over the beginning of the footage said the video proved "the sailors had complete liberty during their detention, which contradicts what the sailors declared after they arrived in Britain." On Friday, Lt. Felix Carman, who was in charge of the crew when it was captured March 23, said the sailors and marines were only allowed to socialize for the benefit of the Iranian media. "We were kept in isolation until the last few nights, when we were allowed to get together for a few hours, in the full glare of the Iranian media," Carman said at a news conference. "But that was very much a setup, very much a stunt for Iranian propaganda."
The crew members also insisted that they were in Iraqi waters when they were seized. Iran dismissed the sailors' news conference as propaganda. Two days before their release, Tehran had pledged not to show more video of the captured crew. The British Foreign Office did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment Sunday.
Labels: Al-Alam television, Bristish sailors, Iran, Lt. Felix Carman, U.K., video
Monday, April 02, 2007
15 British sailors admit to trespassing
U.K., Iran, Security
(CNN) - Iran has showed no sign of bowing to diplomatic pressure to release 15 British sailors and Marines detained for over a week with state-run media on Monday reporting that each of the captives had confessed to illegally entering Iranian waters.
Iran's state-run IRIB network said that all 15 confessed on video, but "due to certain changes in the last two days in the sensational British policies, the detailed interviews will not be aired." On Sunday, Iran's government-run networks aired video of two of the detainees admitting to trespassing in Iranian waters on March 23. Two other British sailors appeared in similar videos last week, prompting outrage in London.
The British Foreign Office called it unacceptable for such pictures to be aired and speaking last week, Prime Minister Tony Blair accused Iran of parading and manipulating the detainees. Britain and Iraq say the sailors and marines were well inside Iraqi waters when they were seized by the Iranians. Britain is demanding their release and access to the detainees, who are being held at an undisclosed location inside Iran.
The brief video clips that aired on Sunday showed two men, one at a time, standing in front of a map. The first man, who is not seen identifying himself, points to where they were "when we were seized." He says it was "apparently at this point, here, from their maps, which is inside Iranian territorial waters." IRIB and other news agencies identified him as Capt. Chris Air. He adds, "So far we're being treated very well by all the people here. They have looked after us and made sure that we're getting enough food, and we've been treated very well by them, so we thank them for that."
The second man, who identifies himself as Lt. Felix Carman, also explains where on the map the 15 British were taken. He adds, "I'd like to say to the Iranian people, I can understand why you are so angry about our intrusion into your waters." The tape then freezes. Both men are dressed in military fatigues.
Iran's state-run IRIB network said that all 15 confessed on video, but "due to certain changes in the last two days in the sensational British policies, the detailed interviews will not be aired." On Sunday, Iran's government-run networks aired video of two of the detainees admitting to trespassing in Iranian waters on March 23. Two other British sailors appeared in similar videos last week, prompting outrage in London.
The British Foreign Office called it unacceptable for such pictures to be aired and speaking last week, Prime Minister Tony Blair accused Iran of parading and manipulating the detainees. Britain and Iraq say the sailors and marines were well inside Iraqi waters when they were seized by the Iranians. Britain is demanding their release and access to the detainees, who are being held at an undisclosed location inside Iran.
The brief video clips that aired on Sunday showed two men, one at a time, standing in front of a map. The first man, who is not seen identifying himself, points to where they were "when we were seized." He says it was "apparently at this point, here, from their maps, which is inside Iranian territorial waters." IRIB and other news agencies identified him as Capt. Chris Air. He adds, "So far we're being treated very well by all the people here. They have looked after us and made sure that we're getting enough food, and we've been treated very well by them, so we thank them for that."
The second man, who identifies himself as Lt. Felix Carman, also explains where on the map the 15 British were taken. He adds, "I'd like to say to the Iranian people, I can understand why you are so angry about our intrusion into your waters." The tape then freezes. Both men are dressed in military fatigues.
The clips were shown first on the Arabic-language network Al Alam, with the Britons' sound muted and a voiceover telling what the two had allegedly said. Then the original version including the sound of the service members was shown on a different government-run channel that broadcasts in Farsi, Iran's official language.
Labels: Al Alam, Capt. Chris Air, Iran, IRIB, Lt. Felix Carman, U.K. Bristish sailors
