Iran 'kidnapped' Marines

The row over the seizure of eight British servicemen by Iran escalated today.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon is under pressure to demand an apology from Iranian authorities after it emerged that the men were forced at gunpoint into Iranian waters.

Shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram today described the Iranian action as "outrageous".

The admission that the men had not lost their way but were effectively kidnapped was made by the Ministry of Defence just before the close of business at Westminster last night. Issuing

the statement so late in the day

left opposition politicians with no chance to ask for more details - but now they are demanding a full explanation.

Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Ancram added: "Our servicemen were paraded, blindfolded and humiliated. This really does create an extraordinary strain on Iranian-British relations."

The six Royal Marines and two sailors were in Iraqi waters in the Shatt al-Arab waterway in three patrol boats when captured.