Playing a very clever game here.

Syria has offered to mediate in the Iran-UK dispute. Iran is holding 15 British sailors and marines which it accuses of tresspassing into Iranian waters. The UK denies this and has refused to apologise.

Syria - which has excellent contacts inside Iran and reasonable relations with Britain - has offered to mediate. Iran has refused, saying it is a bilateral issue, and the UK knows what it has to do (sound familiar Bush?).

Labels: Britain, Iran