TEHRAN, March 28: Iran on Wednesday showed the first pictures of 15 detained British navy personnel after Britain froze contacts between the two in an escalating dispute over the captives.

Britain angrily condemned the images of the eight sailors and seven marines shown by Iranian television, in which the only woman among them apparently admitted that the group had trespassed into Iranian waters.

Iran said Faye Turney, 26, would soon be released but there was no easing of tensions between London and Tehran over the crisis now almost one week old.

The footage included pictures of Turney in a black headscarf, but also a letter she had written to her family.

The Britons were pictured having a meal, and Turney, the mother of a three-year-old girl, said: “Obviously we trespassed in the waters.” Iran has insisted the Britons were in Iranian waters when detained last Friday.

“They were friendly, very hospitable, very thoughtful. Nice people,” she said of her captors.

In a letter to her family released by the Iranian embassy in London, Turney also said: “I have written a letter to the Iranian people to apologise for us entering into their waters.” She ended: “Please don't worry about me. I'm staying strong. Hopefully it won't be long until I'm home to get ready for Molly's birthday party” -- a reference to her three-year-old daughter.

An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman told AFP that Turney would be freed “within a day or two”. But Britain reacted angrily to the images.

Iran played down Britain's decision to freeze contacts, saying ties were already “cold and inactive,” IRNA quoted a foreign ministry source as saying.—AFP