Britain admits errors in Iran kidnap incident

LONDON, June 19 (Reuters) Britain admitted today that a series of ''shortcomings'' combined in March to allow Iranian Revolutionary Guards to kidnap 15 naval personnel on a boarding and inspection mission in the Gulf.

But it insisted that no individual was responsible and no disciplinary action would be taken. Operational steps would be and had been taken to prevent a recurrence.

The government also confirmed as permanent an interim ban it imposed after the sailors' release in April on any serving member of the armed forces selling their stories to the media.

Defence Secretary Des Browne made the twin announcements to parliament after two reviews lasting six weeks.

The report into possible operational mistakes in the lead-up to and during the hostage-taking was not published as it contained secret details of British troops' rules of engagement, but Browne did present a brief synopsis which included the admission of shortcomings.

The report has been presented in confidence to the House of Commons defence select committee, Browne said.

Another report examined the relationship between the media and the armed forces.

A boarding party of 15 British sailors and marines was captured by Iran in the Gulf in March this year and held for 13 days, prompting questions about why they had been taken with such apparent ease and why help was slow to come.

Upon their return, Browne allowed the navy to permit two to sell their stories to newspapers for cash, causing an outcry.

''I welcome the report's clear recommendation that media payments to serving military or civilian personnel, for talking about their work, should simply not be allowed,'' said Browne. Iran seized the sailors after claiming they had strayed into Iranian waters and aired televised interviews in which the Britons ''confessed'' to entering Iranian territory.

Britain argued they had been patrolling Iraqi waters on a regular United Nations mission.

Reuters PY DB2155