9 June 2011 02:03

Britain seeks EU support as second 'confession' is aired

By Kim Sengupta

Published: 31 March 2007

More accusations and recriminations; a second captive appearing on television "apologising"; a third letter from Faye Turney. The propaganda and diplomatic war between Britain and Iran continued unabated yesterday.

Royal Marine Nathan Thomas Summers was shown on Iranian television " confessing" to trespassing into Iranian waters. This was followed by another letter from Leading Seaman Turney saying that she had been " sacrificed" for the foreign policy of Tony Blair and George Bush.

Not all of the 15 British service personnel arrested by Iran have been named, but those who have been identified are Marine Summers; Leading Seaman Turney; and Marines Paul Barton, from Southport; Adam Sperry, 22, from Leicester; Danny Masterton, 26, from Ayrshire; and Joe Tindell, 21, from south London. Britain, meanwhile, took its campaign to have Iran condemned to the European Union with more success than the attempt at the United Nations, where other members watered down a statement of censure.

The EU foreign ministers voiced "solidarity" with Britain over the crisis while the EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, declared " the British soldiers (sic) should be released immediately and without preconditions". But several ministers said they were not prepared to follow Britain in freezing links with Iran. The external relations commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said: "We are in a very delicate moment."

Marine Summers, in his "confession" on Iranian television, said " we trespassed without permission" in Iranian waters. He continued: " Since we have been arrested our treatment has been very friendly, we have not been harmed at all. The food they have been serving us has been good. I would like to apologise for entering your waters without any permission. I know it happened back in 2004 [when the Iranians arrested UK servicemen] and our government promised that it wouldn't happen again, and again I deeply apologise for entering your waters." The third letter in three days in the name of Leading Seaman Turney, 26, stressed that the British detainees were being better treated than Iraqis held by the coalition.

"I am writing to you as a British serviceperson who has been sent to Iraq, sacrificed due to the intervening policies of the Bush and Blair governments," the letter said."Whereas we hear and see on the news the way that prisoners were treated in Abu Ghraib and other Iraqi jails by the British and American personnel, I have received total respect and faced no harm. It is now our time to ask our government to make a change to its oppressive behaviour towards other people."

Iran had sent a formal note to the British embassy in Tehran, which accused the British sailors and Marines of committing an "illegal act" and appeared to hold out the possibility of their release if the UK " guarantee to avoid the recurrence of such acts". However, the Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett, said: "There is nothing in the letter which suggests the Iranians are looking for a way out of this difficult situation."

Tony Blair said: "I really don't know why the Iranian regime keep doing this. All it does is enhance people's sense of disgust. If they continue in this way, they will face increasing isolation."

Marine Summers' brother Nick, who is also in the Navy, said: "Just hang in there mate, stay strong. It's good to see him alive and well."