After the news conference, Iranian television showed a beaming Ahmadinejad on the steps of the presidential palace shaking hands with the Britons - some towering over him. The men were decked out in business suits and Turney wore an Islamic head scarf.

Special coverage: British Sailors Freed Readers' Comment: I Believe Mr Ahmadinejab should be a candidate for the Alfred Nobel peace prize for his contribution to defusing international tensions in a volatible troubled area in this part of our planet------This man is a man of great wisdom who is placing his wisdom in actual practice------but unfortunately he is being miss-understood by some and his political enemies who are taking advantage of his miss-interpretations, and is being strumentalized in their propaganda campaigns against Iran and the peaceful Iranian people. - Sammy Click for more comments Related readings:  Britain, Iran hold high-level talks in sailor row  Iranian diplomat seized in Iraq released  Iranian TV airs new video of detained sailors  Iran sees positive signs in UK stance  All UK captives say entered illegally  UK denounces video of seized sailors  Protest in Iran targets British Embassy  Britain studying Iran standoff options  Bush to Iran: 'Give back the hostages'  Iran airs second British's apology  UN urges resolution of Iran seizure  UK turns up heat on Iran over sailors  Iran TV shows footage of UK sailors  Brit presses Iran; woman may be freed  Blair warns Iran standoff could escalate  Iran: Sailors being treated humanely

"Your people have been really kind to us, and we appreciate it very much," one of the British men told Ahmadinejad in English. Another male service member said: "We are grateful for your forgiveness."

Ahmadinejad responded in Farsi, "You are welcome."

Three members of the crew were later interviewed on Iranian state-run television, apologizing for the alleged incursion into Iran's waters and again thanking Ahmadinejad for their release.

"I can understand why you're insulted by the intrusion into the waters," said Lt. Felix Carman, shown seated on a couch.

"Thank you for letting us go and we apologize for our actions, but many thanks for having it in your hearts to let us go free," Turney said.

The breakthrough caught the British government by surprise. On Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett cautioned reporters not to expect a quick end to the standoff.

The US cautiously welcomed Iran's announcement, though Vice President Dick Cheney said "it was unfortunate that they were ever taken in the first place."

During the standoff, Iran broadcast footage of Turney and some other crew members "confessing" they had entered Iranian waters. An infuriated Britain froze most bilateral contacts, prompting Tehran to roll back on a pledge to free Turney.

Wednesday's announcement led some analysts to conclude that Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, decided the crisis had gone on long enough at a time when Tehran faces mounting pressure over its nuclear program. A day after the British were seized, the UN Security Council imposed new sanctions on Iran for refusing to halt uranium enrichment.

During Ahmadinejad's news conference, the hardline president said Britain had sent a letter to the Iranian Foreign Ministry pledging that entering Iranian waters "will not happen again." Tehran had demanded an apology for the alleged entry into its waters.

Britain's Foreign Office would not give details about the letter but said its position was clear that the detained crew had been in Iraqi waters.

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