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Iran released a third letter purportedly written by detained British sailor

Iran Materials 31 March 2007 12:44 (UTC +04:00)

( CNN ) - Iran on released a third letter purportedly written by detained British sailor Faye Turney, in which she claims to have been "sacrificed" by British and U.S. policies and urges both countries to withdraw their troops from Iraq.

"We were arrested after entering Iranian waters by the Iranian forces. For this I am deeply sorry," the letter states.

"I am writing to you as a British service person who has been sent to Iraq, sacrificed due to the intervening policies of the Bush and Blair governments.

"I believe that for our countries to move forward, we need to start withdrawing our forces from Iraq, and leave the people of Iraq to start rebuilding their lives."

The letter, the authenticity of which cannot be independently determine by CNN, follows two previous letters said to be written by Turney and released separately this week.

Friday's letter was released just hours after Turney appeared with two other Britons in new video aired by Arabic language network Al Alam.

In the video, one the 15 detained service personnel held in Iran for the past week confessed to "entering your waters without permission."

"On the 23rd of March 2007 in Iranian waters we trespassed without permission," said Nathan Thomas Summers. The third detainee in the video has not been identified.

Summers said the Britons were being treated well, as did the Turney letter.

There has been no official reaction by the British government to the letter.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, speaking to reporters after the video was aired said: "All this does is enhance people's sense of disgust. Captured personnel being paraded and manipulated in this way doesn't fool anyone.

"What the Iranians have to realize is that if they continue in this way they will face continuing isolation."

Blair called for "patience" in dealing with the crisis, adding: "The most important thing is to ensure people are returned safe."

Earlier Friday, Britain's Foreign Office responded to the video, telling CNN that "using our servicemen in this way for propaganda reasons is outrageous."

Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers on Friday demanded Iran release 15 Britons, though some warned against escalating the dispute and said their diplomatic ties with Tehran would not be immediately affected, AP reported.

Friday's video was the second so-called confession by a British detainee to be aired by Al Alam this week.

On Wednesday, it showed a video of Turney wearing a black scarf covering her hair, "admitting" that she and her crew had gone into Iranian waters. "Obviously we trespassed into their waters," she said.

Footage in the video also showed the other 14 British detainees eating.

The video caused outrage in London and Britain's ambassador to Iran visited the foreign ministry Thursday to protest its broadcast, Britain's Foreign Office confirmed.

Blair called it "completely wrong -- a disgrace, actually -- when people are used in that way. It's contrary to all international law and convention."

British Foreign Minister Margaret Beckett announced Wednesday that Britain was freezing all bilateral diplomatic business with Iran until the 15 Britons were freed.

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