Iranian state radio has said that all 15 British sailors and marines detained in the country have accepted they illegally entered Iranian waters, despite Britain's insistence they were in Iraqi territory.
Meanwhile, Britain today ruled out any climbdown over demands for the unconditional release of 15 naval personnel being held by Iran, following their 'stage-managed' appearances on Iranian television.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman also said that a lot is going on behind the scenes to secure the release of the British sailors and marines captured in the Persian Gulf on 23 March.
'The Iranians know our position. They know that stage-managed TV appearances aren't going to affect that position. They know that we have strong international support,' the spokesman told a press briefing.
The British negotiator, Terry Waite, who spent almost five years as a hostage in Lebanon, has offered to travel to Iran to help free the 15 Britons.
Television broadcast condemned
The British Foreign Office has condemned the latest television broadcast featuring members of the British navy group seized by Iran 11 days ago.
The Iranian television station which showed the pictures of the two officers said they had confessed to being in Iranian waters when they were captured.
The film, broadcast on Al Alam television, showed the two men in uniform in front of a map of the Persian Gulf to which they pointed.
One of the pair, who gave his name as Lieutenant Felix Carman, said: 'I would like to say to the Iranian people, 'I can understand why you are so angry about our intrusion into your waters'.'
The foreign office condemned the short clip as 'unacceptable' and Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson Michael Moore called it 'crude and cynical propaganda'.
The release of the footage came after the British Embassy in Tehran was pelted with rocks and firecrackers during a demonstration by students yesterday.
Around 200 people took part in the protest about the stand-off between Britain and Iran over the captured servicemen.
The protestors called for the expulsion of the British ambassador to Iran.
