Browne U-turn over sailors' stories row

Defence Secretary Des Browne has taken the blame after two of the sailors captured by Iran sold their stories saying "ultimately, the buck stops here".

Conservative leader David Cameron demanded an inquiry after Mr Browne said the Navy gave the sailors the go-ahead to earn money from reliving their 13-day ordeal to the media. He said he was told of the move and initially agreed with it before pulling the plug.

Mr Browne added "clearly with hindsight I could have made a different decision".

He said: "I knew about the decision. A note indicating the decision and the analysis of the regulations that supported that decision came into my office on Thursday and early on Friday afternoon one of my officials took me through that.

"Clearly over the weekend I thought about the decision and over that weekend I accepted the analysis that was put forward to me by the Navy but I wasn't content with it."

Mr Browne imposed a ban on more sales on Monday after the publication and broadcast of the first stories sparked an angry backlash.

The only female hostage, Leading Seaman Faye Turney sold her story to The Sun newspaper and ITV programme Tonight With Trevor McDonald.

She said a percentage of her fee was going to help personnel on her ship HMS Cornwall and their families while the remainder would go into a trust fund for her daughter.

The youngest captive, Arthur Batchelor, 20, sold his account to the Daily Mirror. He claims some of the money would also go to HMS Cornwall, but he also wanted to help his care worker sister who had taken two weeks unpaid leave while he was held captive.

Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said: "Typically, New Labour's obsession with news management trumped issues of dignity, professionalism and discipline.

"The MoD's actions were completely at odds with normal procedure and totally out of character with the ethos of our armed forces."

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