European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 5, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday april 5 2007 stars and stripes Page is in the world Iran 15 British the associated press Tehran Iran president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced the release of is captive British sailors and marines wednesday in what he called an easter gift to the British people prime minister Tony Blair who said the britons had been released added that he bore no ill will toward the iranian people following the 13day standoff Iran official news Agency said the Brit ish Crew was to leave Iran by plane on thursday at 8 am by wednesday evening they had still not been handed Over to the British embassy in Tehran and the embassy said it was not Clear where they would spend the night a spokesman for Blair would Only say the process is underway asked about apparent contradictions Over Blair saying the Crew had been freed and British embassy statements that they had not yet been handed Over to British authorities a Downing Street spokesman would Only say the process is under Way iranian state television showed the 14 men and one woman meeting with Ahmadinejad outside the presidential Palace following his announcement at a news con Ference that they were being freed the Crew members were seized while on patrol in the Northern persian Gulf on March 23 would leave Iran on thursday at the news conference Ahmadinejad pinned a medal on the Chest of the iranian coast guard commander who intercepted the sailors and marines then made the dra Matic announcement on the occasion of the birthday of the great Prophet and for the occasion of the passing of Christ i say the islamic Republic government and the Ira Nian people with All Powers and Legal right to put the soldiers on trial forgave those 15 he said referring to the Muslim prophets birthday on March 30 and the easter Holiday announcing the opening of our new banking Center at Camp Darby in  this Pardon is a gift to the British peo ple he said Ahmadinejad said the British government was not Brave enough to admit the Crew had been in iranian Waters when it was Cap tured London has insisted throughout the crisis that the sailors were in iraqi Waters the standoff Between London and Tehran began when the Crew was seized As it searched for smugglers off the iraqi coast Britain denied iranian claims the Crew had entered iranian Waters president Bush who had condemned the seizure and referred to the captives As hostages also welcomed the news said his National Security spokesman Gordon Johndroe Pelosi delivers israeli peace message to Syria Damascus Syria House speaker Nancy Pelosi held talks with Syrias Leader wednesday de spite White House objections say ing she pressed president Bashar Assad Over his country support for militant groups and passed him a peace message from Israel the meeting was an attempt to push the Bush administration to open a direct dialogue with Syria a step that the White House has rejected is Dod Community com our grand opening is the Ideal time to introduce affordable and convenient products and services to the servicemen and women who serve our country and help ensure our Freedom services such As free checking with online banking Low interest Loans savings accounts and convenient currency Exchange we invite you to visit our Camp Darby Center and experience the benefits of banking with Courni Unity Bank operated Fay member fwd congressional democrats insist the us at tempts to Iso late Syria have failed to Force the Assad government to change its policies rep Tom Pelosi Lantos the head of the House for eign affairs committee who was in Kelosis delegation said the meeting reinforced very strongly the potential benefits of talk ing to Syria this is Only the be ginning of our constructive Dia Logue with Syria and we Hope to build on this visit he told report ers us wont set Russia Stop missile defense Washington the us will forge ahead with plans for a missile defense system in East Ern Europe even if efforts to Calm russian opposition fail a senior Pentagon official said tuesday Eric Edelman undersecretary of defense for policy said the us and Russia have been discussing ways to cooperate in the plans which would put a radar system in the czech Republic and about 10 missile interceptors in Poland the system would be used to guard against potential attacks against the us and Europe from countries such As Iran Edelman said if the talks fail the us would not allow Russia to dictate what we do bilaterally with other countries the billion initiative has angered the russians who have said it could set off an arms race the us has argued that it is a defensive system that poses no threat to Russia from the associated press