Chronology of the standoff

March 23 -- Iranian warships in the northern Persian Gulf capture 15 British sailors and Marines.

March 24 -- A Tehran news agency reports that GPS systems on the British boats prove they had been in Iranian waters. Britain denies it and demands their release.

March 25 -- British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett says it is "very clear" that no trespass occurred. Prime Minister Tony Blair says Iran's actions are "unjustified and wrong."

March 28 -- Iranian television broadcasts footage of the sailors, with a statement by sailor Faye Turney admitting that the British ship had entered Iranian waters.

March 30 -- Marine Nathan Summers is shown on Iranian TV apologizing for trespassing. The British Foreign Office condemns the video as "disgraceful exploitation."

March 31 -- President Bush criticizes the Iranian government and urges it to return the sailors. Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad describes Britain as "arrogant" for failing to apologize.

April 1 -- Footage is shown of two crew members confessing to trespassing into Iranian waters by pointing to a map "where intruding boats were captured."

April 4 -- At a press conference, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announces the immediate release of the British sailors and marines.

SOURCES: News reports