'Fake' map behind the crisis.

Source: The Scottish Mail on Sunday.

The link takes you to an article by Craig Murray on the paper's website, while the heading is from a briefer article in the paper version.

The latter continues:

"Tony Blair and his spin doctors colluded to 'fake' a map used to to prove 15 Royal Navy personnel were kidnapped inside Iraqi waters, it was claimed last night.

In allegedly doing so, the Prime Minister put the lives of mother Faye Turney, 25, and her colleagues in greater jeopardy, former British ambassador Craig Murray added.

Murray headed the Foreign Office's maritime section and worked with the Royal Naval Defence and Intelligence Service.

For three years he was responsible for territorial sea claims and negotiating Britain's maritime boundaries.

Foreign Office and Royal Navy staff were apparently horrified when Blair said he was 'utterly certain' the sailors and the Royal Marines were entitled to search vessels in what they privately concede are disputed waters.

Murray said...

'It was why the instinct of both the Foreign Office and and MoD was to play this quietly and negotiate our people back. But No 10 spin doctors stepped in, seeing a propaganda opportunity to portray Blair as fighting evil Iranians. It makes compromise on the captives very difficult.'

LinkHere