Britons leave for London, ending Iran standoff

By Edmund Blair and Parisa Hafezi

TEHRAN (Reuters) - The 15 British military personnel who had been held by Iran left Tehran on Thursday on a flight to London, Iran Radio reported, ending a standoff that raised international tension and rattled financial markets.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a news conference broadcast round the world on Wednesday he had decided to forgive and free the 15 even though Britain was not "brave enough" to admit they had strayed into Iranian territory.

The peaceful end to the two-week standoff, which began when Tehran seized the 15 in the Shatt al-Arab waterway between Iraq and Iran on March 23, prompted a drop in oil prices from recent highs. U.S. stock futures and the dollar rose in relief.

Iranian officials whisked the 15 sailors and marines through the airport building to the British Mediterranean Airways plane, keeping them away from journalists, the witnesses said.

"The plane has taken off," Iran Radio said.

A British diplomat, asking not to be named, said the Britons would travel in the business class section and that no one apart from the 15 and people accompanying them would be allowed in that part of the plane.

"The 15 will be accompanied by three or four British embassy staff and there will be no access for the media until the plane reaches Britain," said the diplomat.

At his news conference, Ahmadinejad said: "Under the influence of the Muslim Prophet, (Iran) forgives these 15 people and gives their freedom to the British people as a gift."

In London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair welcomed the release of the 15.

"Throughout we have taken a measured approach, firm but calm, not negotiating but not confronting either," Blair told reporters. "To the Iranian people I would simply say this: we bear you no ill will."

The dispute centered on where the Britons were when they were seized. Britain says they were in Iraqi waters on a routine U.N. mission. Tehran says they strayed into its territorial waters.

SMILES

After his announcement, a smiling Ahmadinejad met several of the sailors and marines, dressed in smart suits, shaking hands with them and exchanging a few words through an interpreter.

"We are very grateful for your forgiveness," one of the sailors told Ahmadinejad. "I would like to thank yourself and the Iranian people."

U.S. President George W. Bush welcomed the news, as did European Union president Germany.