Next 48 hours critical in row with Teheran: Blair

Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair said yesterday the way was open for diplomatic efforts to secure the release of 15 British sailors and marines seized by Iran, and the next 48 hours would be critical.

The two countries have been at loggerheads since Iran seized the sailors on March 23 in the northern Gulf, but there have been few tangible signs of progress in the 12-day stand off.

Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said on Monday he believed bilateral diplomacy could resolve the crisis quickly. Britain responded by saying it too would like early talks to end the row.