Hopes rise for servicemen

Hopes are rising for the safety of 15 British sailors and marines captured by Iran last Friday.Iran said it may allow UK officials to meet the group once an investigation has been carried out.It is the first apparent concession since the men were seized at gunpoint off the coast of Iraq.Tehran insists they had strayed into Iranian waters - a claim denied by the Ministry of Defence.The Foreign Office said Iran has promised that the 15 British personnel are "fit and well".The Islamic republic's foreign ministry told British ambassador Geoffrey Adams at a meeting that it was working to resolve the situation as soon as possible.A Foreign Office spokesman described the hour-long meeting as "business-like", with the ambassador pressing for details of where the detainees were being held.He also demanded consular access to them and details of Iran's plans for their release."The foreign ministry assured us that the group were fit and well and in Iran, but gave no further details at this stage," the spokesman said.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | March 26, 2007