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No.189 SIM音読用英文

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British Service Members Detained in Iran Arrive Home
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The British navy crew arrived

at London's Heathrow airport at midday.

Dressed in their military uniforms,

they paused briefly for photos

and were then taken straight to waiting military helicopters

and flown to a military base southwest of London

for debriefing and private reunions with their families.

Prime Minister Blair welcomed their return.

"We are glad

that our service personnel returned safe and unharmed

from their captivity."

The sailors and marines were detained

by Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces March 23

and accused of having strayed into Iranian territorial
waters in the Gulf,

an accusation Britain rejects.

In a surprise move Wednesday,

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced

the sailors and marines were being released.

There were intense discussions

between London and Tehran

to end the standoff

and Mr. Blair said a dual track of talk and pressure was responsible

for a successful outcome.

"We have managed to secure the release of our personnel,

I think more quickly than many people anticipated

and have done so incidentally,

and I want to make this very very clear,

without any deal, without any negotiation, without any side
agreement of any nature whatever."

Mr. Blair said this dual strategy is one

the international community should continue to follow

in dealing with Iran,

whether it concerns neighboring Iraq, terrorism or Iran's nuclear
ambitions.

The British prime minister also lamented the death

of four British soldiers in Basra, in southern Iraq.

"Just as we rejoice at the return of our 15 service personnel,

so today we are also grieving and mourning

for the loss of our soldiers in Basra,

who were killed as a result of a terrorist act."

The four soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed

by a roadside bomb.

In his comments in London, Mr. Blair did not link the Basra attack
to Iran,

but he said there are elements of the Iranian government

that back, finance, arm and support terrorism in Iraq.

It is a charge

Tehran denies.

Sonja Pace, VOA News, London.
(Material is provided courtesy of voanews.com.)
by danueno | 2007-04-10 16:54 | SIM音読用英文


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