Iransaid Tuesday the 15 British sailors and marines it detained last week arehealthy, have been treated in a humane manner and that the only female sailoramong them had been given privacy.

"They are in completely good health. Rest assured thatthey have been treated with humanitarian and moral behavior," Mohammad AliHosseini, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, told The Associated Press.

Hosseini said the 26-year-old female sailor, Faye Turney, had completeprivacy. "Definitely, all ethics have been observed," he said.

Hosseini would not say where the Britons were being kept and reiterated thattheir case is under investigation.

"The case should follow procedures," Hosseini said. "Mediahyperbole will not help" speed resolution of the case.

Iranhas said it is questioning the British sailors and marines to determine iftheir alleged entry into Iranian waters was "intentional orunintentional" before deciding what to do with them — the first sign itcould be seeking a way out of the standoff.

Source:Agencies