LONDON - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced Wednesday that the 15 British sailors captured on March 23 would be released.
Here is an updated timeline of events in the standoff.

Friday, March 23
-- Britain`s defence ministry announces that 15 British sailors and marines inspecting a merchant ship in Iraqi waters have been seized at gunpoint by personnel aboard Iranian navy ships.
-- Iran`s foreign ministry says the sailors illegally entered Iranian territorial waters and were arrested by border guards "for investigation and questioning."

Saturday, March 24
-- Iranian armed forces general staff spokesman General Alireza Afshar says the 15 British service personnel admitted to violating its territorial waters.

Sunday, March 25
-- Britain`s ambassador to Tehran, Geoffrey Adams, asks to meet with the 15 and demands their immediate release.
-- Prime Minister Tony Blair calls their seizure "unjustified and wrong."

Monday, March 26
-- Iran`s Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Mostafavi says the Britons are being interrogated and will have to answer to allegations they violated Iranian waters.

Tuesday, March 27
-- Blair warns Iran that the stand-off would enter a "different phase" if diplomatic efforts to secure their release failed.

Wednesday, March 28
-- Britain releases evidence it says proves the Britons were in Iraqi waters and announces a freeze on official contacts with Iran. Blair pledges to "ratchet up" pressure on Tehran.
-- The Iranian foreign ministry says it will release the only woman among the captives, sailor Faye Turney, in one or two days.
-- Iranian television broadcasts the first footage of the sailors and marines in which Turney says "Obviously we trespassed in the (Iranian) waters."
-- Iran releases a letter, purportedly written by 26-year-old Turney to her family, in which she said she had apologised to the Iranians for trespassing.
-- Britain condemns Iran for publishing the letter and for airing the footage and voices concerns about possible coercion.
-- US President George W. Bush gives full backing to Britain over the crisis.

Thursday, March 29
-- Iran changes its mind about releasing Turney, accusing London of stirring up a furore.
-- Blair warns Iran there was a "whole series of measures" that could be taken and calls the showing of Turney footage a "disgrace."
-- UN Security Council adopts a watered-down statement expressing "grave concern" at the detention, urging Tehran to allow consular access.
-- Tehran releases a second letter apparently written by Turney, in which she suggested it was time for Britain to withdraw its troops from Iraq.

Friday, March 30
-- Iran airs television footage of a "confession" from Royal Navy serviceman Nathan Thomas Sommers and a third letter from Turney.
-- The United States rejects suggestions the 15 could be swapped for five Iranian officials held by US forces in Iraq.
-- The European Union defies Iranian calls to stay out of the row, calling the seizure a breach of international law and threatening to take action.
-- Ahmadinejad says Britain should apologise for "violating" its territorial waters.
-- Oil prices surge past 69 dollars a barrel in London, a near seven-month high.

Saturday, March 31
-- Iran warns Britain over politicising the crisis, while British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett accuses Iran of "sabre-rattling."

Sunday, April 1
-- Iranian students pelt British embassy in Tehran with rocks.
-- Tehran broadcasts new TV footage of detainees.
-- Britain and Iran say they are in direct communication over the dispute.

Monday, April 2
-- Iran`s top security official says "no need" to put detainees on trial and stresses desire for diplomatic solution.

Tuesday, April 3
-- Blair says stand-off facing a "critical" 48 hours and warns of "tougher decisions" if personnel not freed.

Wednesday, April 40
-- Iran applauds "change of tone" from Britain after talks with a top Blair advisor.
-- Ahmadinejad announces that all 15 British personnel have been pardoned and will be freed imminently as "a gift".

04/04/2007 15:28 GMT