Commenting on the return of the 15 service personnel from HMS Cornwall, the Liberal Democrat MP for the West Cornwall and Isles of Scilly constituency of St Ives, Andrew George, welcomed their return as a "victory for the peace makers."

Mr George, who exchanged communications with the Iranian Embassy and called on the support of his counterparts in the Iranian Majlis (Parliament), said: "It is clear that calm diplomacy has worked where jingoistic sabre rattling would have failed.

"However, I am troubled to read some of the press commentary today suggesting that the release marked some kind of humiliation' for the UK and for the Prime Minister.

"This kind of warped logic could only result in unnecessary demands for retaliation. The return of the 15 service personnel is a victory for the peacemakers and a defeat for the war mongers.

"However, the Government now owes us a great deal more accurate information of what went on at the time of the arrests and how this was allowed to happen."

Mr George also responded to some apparent criticisms from some opposition parties to his efforts on behalf of his constituent, Nathan Summers and his family who live in Hayle.

Mr George said: "I am surprised that some have chosen to criticise my efforts to do my best to seek the secure return of my constituent and to describe it as appeasement' without raising their ridiculous claims either with me or, as far as I am aware, the family involved.

"Nothing that I wrote to the Speaker of the Iranian Majlis (Parliament) is new.

"In my experience there has been only one appeasement in Britain and that is those who have sought to appease President Bush in his disastrous approach to the resolution of complex international affairs. The Blair Government and his Tory supporters have set world peace back decades, are responsible for the loss of thousands of lives in Iraq, the setting back of the Middle East peace process and adding to greater instability and more recruits for fanatical terrorist organisations.

"I have spent my political life standing up to those appeasers and if anyone wants to criticise me for this then they should come to me and say so," said Mr George.