Freed British servicemen fly into Tehran

Eight British troops who were detained after straying into Iranian territorial waters have arrived in Tehran, state-run television reported today, and Britain said the men were in the custody of British diplomats.

Protesters tried to approach the six Royal Marines and two sailors at the airport on their arrival but were kept away by police.

The eight were detained on Monday after their boats apparently strayed on to the Iranian side of the Shatt al-Arab waterway, or Arvand River, that runs along the Iran-Iraq border while delivering a patrol boat to Iraq’s new river police.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the eight travelled from the Persian Gulf area to Tehran with British consular officers.

“I’m told that they are in very good spirits and were well cared for,” he said in a brief statement.

He said they would be taken to the British Embassy. He did not specify where they would then go.

The Arabic language Al-Alam television station said a number of protesters waited at the Tehran airport for the arrival of the troops.

Hard-line Iranians opposed to Britain’s prominent role in the occupation of Iraq have in recent weeks held angry demonstrations outside the British Embassy.