British defence secretary says "sorry" over sailors' debacle

Apr 16, 2007, 15:55 GMT

London - British defence secretary Des Browne Monday apologized to parliament over the handling of the 'cash for sailors' row that followed the release of 15 naval personnel from captivity in Iran earlier this month.

Browne said he had 'made a mistake' by endorsing a Navy decision to allow the sailors to 'sell their stories' to British tabloids for huge sums of money.

He 'profoundly regretted' that decision, Browne told the House of Commons. 'I accept responsibility, we must learn our lessons from this.'

After interviews given by two of the group were published over Easter, Browne reversed the decision and stopped further sailors and Royal Marines from speaking to the media.

As a result of the mishandling of the situation, the 55-year-old defence secretary, who is a human rights lawyer, came under intense pressure to resign.

But by announcing an inquiry into the 'media handling aspects' Monday he clearly hoped to calm the situation, commentators said.

Browne also said an investigation would be held into how the 15 came to be snatched by Iranian coastguards during a routine patrol in the Shatt-al-Arab on March 23.

Throughout their 13-day captivity, Britain rejected Iranian claims that the naval boats had entered Iranian territorial waters.

The inquiry, expected to last six weeks, would cover 'all operational aspects' and factors leading to the capture.

To cheers from the Labour benches, Browne said the most important point remained that 'we got our people back - safe and on our terms.'

There had been 'no apology and no deal' done with Iran prior to the sailors' release by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on April 4, Browne stressed.