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新聞背景：15名被扣押的英國海軍人員于昨天中午安抵倫敦希思羅機場，20分鐘后，他們走出機艙，各自身著水兵和陸戰(zhàn)隊制服，興高采烈地在機場上站成一隊，讓攝影記者們照相。隨后他們乘坐直升機飛往英國皇家海軍基地。
The
15 British sailors and marines detained in Iran for nearly two weeks have
arrived home in Britain. VOA's Sonja Pace reports from London, Prime
Minister Tony Blair welcomed their return, but says no deals were made
with Iran to gain their release.
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," he said.
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 more quickly
than many people anticipated and have done so, and I want to make this
very clear, without any deal, without any negotiation, without any side
agreement of any nature whatever," Mr. Blair said.
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," he said.
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.
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