Blair's office knew of decision to allow sailors to talk (Roundup)

Apr 10, 2007, 12:39 GMT

London - The office of Prime Minister Tony Blair Tuesday broke its silence in the growing row over the 'cash for sailors' affair and said Blair was informed of the decision to allow the captives released by Iran to sell their stories to the British media.

Number 10, Downing Street, the office of Blair, had been informed of the decision on Sunday, a spokeswoman said. However, she would not be drawn on when or whether Blair himself was told of the controversial plan.

After two of the 15 former captives, including female sailor Faye Turney, sold their stories to newspapers and television channels for what are reported to be six-figure sums, Defence Secretary Des Browne Monday evening reversed the decision, reimposing a traditional ban on the armed forces' contacts with the media.

However, in a clear attempt to shift responsibility away from the government, Blair's spokeswoman said the decision to allow the naval personnel to speak out was taken by the Navy.

Blair supported the defence secretary in his decision 'to take a look at this,' she added, referring to the review of the rules ordered by Browne.

'What's important now is to look at this and look at these situations, to recognize the world in which we are operating in terms of the media and the vast sums of money involved,' said Blair's spokeswoman.

'I don't think it's helpful to get into who informed who when,' she added.

However, criticism of Browne, who has been widely reported as having sanctioned the initial decision by the Navy, continued unabated Tuesday.

Britain's armed forces had become a 'laughing stock' in the furore over the interviews, Peter Kilfoyle, a former Labour state secretary in the defence ministry, said Tuesday.

Even though the initial decision to allow the sailors and marines to speak may have been made by the Navy top brass, the government was ultimately responsible for the embarrassing episode, he said.

Earlier, the defence spokesman for the opposition Conservative Party, Liam Fox, said the members of the armed forces had been 'put up for auction in the most horribly undignified fashion' in an apparent effort to score a 'propaganda victory' over Iran.

'This will not have gone unnoticed overseas,' said Fox.

Other critics have said the sailors had been allowed allowed to take part in a 'military Big Brother show.'

Browne admitted late Monday that the decision to let the sailors be interviewed by the media had 'not been a success.'

'It was a very tough call for the Navy, but everyone involved accepts it had not reached a satisfactory outcome,' said Browne, ordering that all interviews should be stopped until a review of the rules regarding media contact of armed forces personnel had been completed.

Kilfoyle said that while Browne was clearly trying to 'distance himself from a great embarrassment, the reality of it is that, as Secretary of State, he will carry the can.'

Meanwhile, Leading Seaman Faye Turney, the only woman among the group of captives freed last Wednesday, revealed further details of her experience in the Sun newspaper Tuesday.

She said the thought of her three-year-old daughter, Molly, growing up without a mother had reduced her to tears while she was held captive.

Her biggest concern had been that Molly would have seen her paraded blindfold on TV and been scared, said Turney.

The 26-year old is reported to have negotiated media deals worth in excess of 100,000 pounds (190,000 dollars) prior to the ban re- imposed by the government.