TEHRAN (AFP) - Fifteen British sailors freed by Iran after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dramatically pardoned them for violating the Islamic republic's waters were to fly home Thursday, ending a two-week ordeal.
The sailors and marines were expected to fly out of Tehran at 8:00 am (0430 GMT) after Ahmadinejad on Wednesday deflated a growing diplomatic crisis by pardoning them as a "gift" to the British people.
Friends and relatives of the captured men and one woman spent much of the night popping champagne corks in Britain after the surprise announcement by Ahmadinejad, later seen on state television chatting with the former prisoners.
"Although Iran has the right to prosecute them by following the model of the prophet the 15 people were pardoned and their freedom given as a gift to the British people," Ahmadinejad said at a Tehran press conference.
The announcement was welcomed by Britain and governments across the world as well as joyous relatives of the captives, some of whom had been paraded on state television "confessing" to trespassing in Iranian waters.
Later on Wednesday, the group met with Britain's ambassador to Tehran Geoffrey Adams, after having been denied consular access for the duration of their detention, a foreign ministry spokesman told AFP in London.
The spokesman added that the naval personnel had not been transferred to the British embassy. The eight sailors and seven marines were seized at gunpoint while patrolling the northern Gulf between Iran and Iraq on March 23.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Wednesday hailed the release and thanked "our friends and allies in the region who played their part" amid unconfirmed reports that Syria and Qatar helped bring about a peaceful resolution. He said Britain, which took the issue to the UN Security Council last week, had taken a "firm but calm" approach, "not negotiating but not confronting either".
The families of the detainees erupted in joy and relief at the news, which came after 13 days of a sometimes heated propaganda war. "We've been absolutely devastated these last 13 days, it's been the longest of my life. I'm just so happy today," said April Rawsthorne, grandmother of 21-year-old Nathan Summers, clutching a bottle of champagne.
Iranian state media said the 15 had "shouted for joy" on news of their release. "We are grateful for your forgiveness," one sailor was heard telling Ahmadinejad, who in turn wished them good luck. The men were wearing suits while the sole woman captive, Faye Turney, was in trousers and a headscarf.
The BBC broadcast footage originally aired by Iranian television following Ahmadinejad's announcement showing Turney telling an interviewer that the group "apologise for our actions, but many thanks for having it in your hearts to let us go free."
The standoff had further damaged ties between Tehran and the West already frayed by Iran's controversial nuclear programme, and had sent jitters through world oil and financial markets.
Oil prices had surged to near seven month highs on fears Iran could disrupt supplies and fell on news of the release. However, Iran's hardline president -- who saved his dramatic announcement until nearly the end of the press conference -- still lashed out at Britain over its handling of the crisis and decorated a Revolutionary Guards commander who had seized the Britons. "The British government, in a letter, has vowed not to repeat such incidents. But this release is not linked to this letter. It is due to Islamic goodwill," he said.
His announcement came after Iran had applauded a "change of tone" from Britain following talks between top security official Ali Larijani and Blair's chief foreign policy advisor Sir Nigel Sheinwald on Tuesday. Syria -- Iran's top ally in the region -- had announced it was mediating in the crisis after a call from Sheinwald.
Iran had insisted the key to resolving the crisis was an admission from Britain that the sailors and marines violated its territorial waters. Britain maintains the group was carrying out routine anti-smuggling operations in Iraqi waters in line with a UN mandate, but Iran says the sailors' Global Positioning System (GPS) devices show they intruded on Iranian waters.
US President George W. Bush welcomed the release of the Britons but Washington denied any link to the sudden granting of consular access to five Iranian officials held in Iraq for allegedly stoking unrest. The crisis had come at a perilous time for Iran's relations with the West, with the United States refusing to rule out military action over its nuclear drive and the United Nations imposing tough new sanctions.
Earlier News
Iran to release British sailors as 'gift'
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today announced that his government would release the detained 15 British sailors and marines as a gift to the British people.
He pardoned the sailors and announced their release minutes after he gave medals of honour to the Iranian coastguards who intercepted the sailors and marines, saying Iran will never accept trespassing of its territorial waters.
“On behalf of the great Iranian people, I want to thank the Iranian coastguard who courageously defended and captured those who violated their territorial waters, the president told a press conference.
He then interrupted his speech and pinned medals on the chests of three coastguard officers involved in capturing the British sailors and marines in the northern Gulf on March 23.
“We are sorry that British troops remain in Iraq and their sailors are being arrested in Iran,” Ahmadinejad said.
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