Diplomacy Option Open

In Washington, Bush branded Iran's seizure on March 23 of the 15 Britons as inexcusable and demanded the "hostages'" release.

"It's inexcusable behavior and I strongly support the (British Prime Minister Tony) Blair government's attempts to resolve this peacefully," Bush told a news conference on Saturday of Iran's capture of 14 men and one woman in what Tehran insists were Iranian waters.

"I support the prime minister when he made it clear there were no quid pro quos," said Bush, whose country's ties with Tehran have been severed for decades. "The Iranians must give back the hostages."

Brits favor diplomatic approach

Most Britons favor a negotiated settlement to the standoff, according to the results of a poll published in Britain's Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

The paper also reported that London hopes to send a top navy officer to Tehran to promise that the Royal Navy will never knowingly enter Iranian waters without permission.

The survey found that 48 percent of British voters rejected force even as a "last resort," while 44 percent backed it if diplomacy failed. It also found that 40 percent of voters support the London government's stance of pursuing diplomatic action to win the release of the 15 without apologizing.

Tehran has so far refused to bow to pressure to free the captives, who are being held in a secret location and occasionally paraded on state television allegedly confessing and apologizing.

Britain insists they were on a routine anti-smuggling patrol in Iraqi waters under a UN mandate, but the Islamic republic says they strayed into its territorial waters.

Tehran waits for "appropriate" response

Ahmadinejad on Saturday again called for Britain to apologize.

"The arrogant issue statements and issue demands against the Iranian people, instead of apologizing and expressing regret over the British sailors entering Iranian waters," he said, quoted by the state news agency IRNA.

Tehran has warned against politicizing the incident, saying it had begun legal proceedings against the sailors for illegally entering Iranian waters, but denying reports of a trial.

But in a sign both sides wish to pursue the diplomatic option, the Iranian foreign ministry said a diplomatic note it had received from London in response to its formal protest contained "different points which could be examined."

However, the ministry also added that Tehran was awaiting "a correction of attitude on Britain's part."

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett confirmed her ministry had received a diplomatic note from Tehran and responded to it, without elaborating.

"I think everyone regrets that this position has arisen. What we want is a way out of it; we want it peacefully, and we want it as soon as possible," Beckett said after a meeting her European Union counterparts in Germany.

On Friday, the EU foreign ministers deplored the seizure of the Britons as a breach of international law and threatened to take "appropriate measures" if they were not freed soon.

Tehran: sailors on TV as evidence of well-being

Britain has frozen most ties with Iran, a move Tehran blamed for its decision not to free the sole woman detained as promised.

Leading Seaman Faye Turney, 26, was pictured on Iranian television "confessing," as was 21-year-old Nathan Summers.

"It is wrong to parade the captives on television... But I cannot tell you what a relief it was to see my boy alive and well," said his father Roy, who added he did not believe Nathan's words were his own.

The foreign ministry in Tehran said "showing videos of detainees took place in line with humanitarian considerations in order to alleviate their families' concerns and to show they are fine."