Posted by Rough Rider on March 29, 2007, 6:20 am "First they have to admit that they have made a mistake. Admitting the mistake will facilitate a solution to the problem," Mottaki told The Associated Press in an interview in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. "But unfortunately the British have not admitted their mistake." Mottaki also backed off a prediction that the female sailor, Faye Turney, could be freed Wednesday or Thursday, but said Tehran agreed to allow British officials to meet with service personnel. FIND MORE STORIES IN: Iran | Iran | Britain | Britons | TV station | Manouchehr Mottaki | Arabic-language "We have accepted that (the British request), there is no problem. Measures are underway (to arrange meeting.) They can meet them," he said. Mottaki's announcement came on a day of escalating tensions, highlighted by an Iranian video of the detained Britons that showed the only woman captive saying her group had "trespassed" in Iranian waters. Britain angrily denounced the video as unacceptable and froze most dealings with the mideast nation. At the United Nations, Britain asked the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday to support a call for the immediate release of 15 sailors and marines captured by Iran, council diplomats said. South Africa's U.N. Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, the current council president, said Britain had circulated a press statement to the 14 other council members which would be discussed on Thursday. The statement says the 15 sailors and marines were operating in Iraqi waters, under a mandate from the Security Council and at the request of Iraq, and supports calls for their immediate release, according to council diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because the text was not released.
Link: Iran: Britain must admit navy trespassed
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LONDON (AP) — Iran's foreign minister said Wednesday that Britain must admit that its 15 sailors and marines entered Iranian waters in order to resolve a standoff over their capture by Iranian authorities.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki's announcement came on a day of escalating tensions, highlighted by an Iranian video of the detained Britons that showed the only woman captive saying her group had "trespassed" in Iranian waters. Britain angrily denounced the video as unacceptable and froze most dealings with the mideast nation.
ON DEADLINE: Report: Video not broadcast within Iran
His comments were the first confirmation that Iran agreed to a British request for a consular visit with the crew, though he did not specify when. Iran has not said where the 15 are being held.
VIDEO: Female sailor says, "Obviously, we trespassed"
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