Iran says it will consider a Turkish request for Tehran to free the only woman among the 15 British naval personnel captured last week.
Iranian state television reported that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will give the order for Turkey's request to be examined in a "positive" way.
State television reported that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had asked Mr. Ahmadinejad to free the female British sailor, Faye Turney. The television channel also said Mr. Erdogan asked the Iranian president to allow a Turkish diplomat to meet with the sailors.
Iran initially said Turney could soon be freed. But Iranian officials said Thursday her release was suspended because of the "wrong behavior" by Britain.
British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said attempts by Iran to use Turney as propaganda are -- quote -- "outrageous and cruel."
Iran's embassy in London released a second letter Thursday, purportedly from Turney, that says the 15 Britons had entered Iranian waters. The letter also calls for Britain to withdraw its troops from Iraq.
Britain says satellite positioning information shows that its sailors were in Iraqi waters when they were captured last Friday.
Iran says Britain must acknowledge the 15 were in Iranian waters if it wants to resolve the crisis.
Meanwhile, Britain is asking the United Nations to condemn Iran's capture of the sailors. British officials are circulating a draft text at the U.N. Security Council calling for the sailors to be released.
Iranian state television reported that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will give the order for Turkey's request to be examined in a "positive" way.
State television reported that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had asked Mr. Ahmadinejad to free the female British sailor, Faye Turney. The television channel also said Mr. Erdogan asked the Iranian president to allow a Turkish diplomat to meet with the sailors.
Iran initially said Turney could soon be freed. But Iranian officials said Thursday her release was suspended because of the "wrong behavior" by Britain.
British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said attempts by Iran to use Turney as propaganda are -- quote -- "outrageous and cruel."
Iran's embassy in London released a second letter Thursday, purportedly from Turney, that says the 15 Britons had entered Iranian waters. The letter also calls for Britain to withdraw its troops from Iraq.
Britain says satellite positioning information shows that its sailors were in Iraqi waters when they were captured last Friday.
Iran says Britain must acknowledge the 15 were in Iranian waters if it wants to resolve the crisis.
Meanwhile, Britain is asking the United Nations to condemn Iran's capture of the sailors. British officials are circulating a draft text at the U.N. Security Council calling for the sailors to be released.