Iran Cleric Calls For Releasing British Woman

A moderate Iranian cleric called on Friday for Iran to free the only woman among a group of 15 British naval personnel.

A moderate Iranian cleric called on Friday for Iran to free the only woman detained among a group of 15 British naval personnel to show goodwill and counter Western efforts to create a poor impression of Iran.

Iran had said it would hand over Faye Turney who was seized on March 23 with 14 other British sailors and marines but later said Britain's "wrong behaviour" in the row had prompted a change of mind.

Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Ali Rahmani, who is the representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to the police, said releasing Turney "would show Iran's goodwill", Iran's Mehr News Agency reported.

Khamenei, who has not commented on the captured Britons, is Iran's top authority in Iran's system of clerical rule.

But one analyst cautioned that comments by the mid-ranking cleric did not necessarily reflect the views of Khamenei and said Rahmani was known for holding relatively moderate views.

"The release of the woman would ease the heavy and false atmosphere that the West has created around Iran," he said, adding that the cases of the British men involved should be dealt with based on "international regulations".

The supreme leader has representatives to many Iranian organisations and bodies.