Iran TV airs new footage of captive Britons

TEHRAN: Iranian state television aired new footage on Sunday of two of the 15 British naval personnel it captured off Iraq last month.   

The two were shown separately on the television's Arabic language channel standing in front of an Iranian chart of the northern Gulf waters where the sailors and marines were seized on March 23.

The original audio of their comments could not be heard but according to a purported Arab-language translation they admitted Iran's accusation that they were detained on the Iranian side of the maritime boundary.   

"The two servicemen are explaining that the group was carrying out a reconnaissance mission when it penetrated Iranain territorial waters at 10 am that day in the sector indicated by the GPS," a voice-over commentary said.   

"They are saying that the group entered the Iranian sector from the Iraqi side.   

"They are saying that they were treated in a humane manner."   

Britain condemned the new pictures of its detained service personnel.   

"It's unacceptable for these pictures to be shown," a foreign ministry spokeswoman said.