UK media fury over detained 15

By Peter Sorel-Cameron

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LONDON, England (CNN) -- The British media reacted with outrage Thursday after Arab television broadcast video footage of British marines and sailors who were captured by Iranian Revolutionary Guards last week.

The video showed Leading Seaman Faye Turney, wearing a head scarf and smoking a cigarette as she "admitted" that vessels containing her and 14 other British personnel strayed into Iranian waters. She, also stating that she and her fellow captives were being treated well.

Front page headlines on both broadsheet and tabloids screamed "Parade," "Propaganda," and "Outrage" as they expressed anger at Iran and distrust of the conditions under which Turney's statement was made.

The left-leaning Guardian said it is up to the EU to step in and support the UK, politically and economically in the crisis, saying Europe should "flex its economic muscles" in backing a trade freeze.

"The EU is by far Iran's biggest trading partner. More than 40 percent of its imports come from, and more than a quarter of its exports go to, the EU."

The right wing Daily Mail's Stephen Glover claims that "Iran knows (the UK) have neither the will nor ability to exercise force against it." He also says her statement "must have been obtained under duress."

His view was echoed throughout the British press. The tabloid Mirror spoke to a defense analyst who said the apology is what he'd "expect her to do;" The Daily Express spoke to one of Turney's friends who said she is "sure Faye has been forced to say those things."

The Independent's Teri Judd reports from aboard the HMS Cornwall -- the frigate on which Turney and her fellow captives are based -- saying "this was not the chatty girl I met."

The papers also attack Iran's actions in the incident, with the Express referring to Iran as "a deranged theocracy." The Mirror calls the captors "cowards" and the Guardian calls on British Prime Minister Tony Blair's ruling party to act, insisting: "Labour must act against this group of dedicated wreckers."

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