UK Embassy Under Attack

Petrol bombs have been thrown at the British embassy in Tehran as the row over 15 captured sailors and marines escalates.

Witnesses said there had been several, small blasts and smoke could be seen rising in the compound.

It is thought between 150 and 200 people massed at the embassy, with some throwing rocks as well as home-made bombs.

Sky Foreign Affairs Editor Tim Marshall said the demonstration would have been sanctioned by Iranian officials.

He added: "This is a warning. In the last protest there were around 10 people, around 200 this time and next time it could be thousands."

It is not thought the demonstrators - mainly students - breached the compound. There are no reports of injuries.

Earlier, George Bush condemned Iran's "inexcusable behaviour" in taking the service personnel.

He said he strongly supported the British government's attempts to resolve the stand-off peacefully - and insisted the "innocent hostages" be released immediately.

Speaking at his Camp David retreat in Maryland, the President rejected suggestions that Iranians held in Iraq be freed in return for the release of the Britons.

He said: "Iran must give back the hostages. They're innocent, they did nothing wrong and they were summarily plucked out of the water."

Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, attacked Britain on Saturday as "arrogant and selfish" for trespassing in his country's waters.

Meanwhile, Iran has sent a formal protest to Britain over an alleged shooting incident in Iraq.

Prayers have been said in the home church of captured sailor Faye Turney for the safe return of the leading seaman and her 14 colleagues being held in Iran.

The Rev Sue Caddy, vicar of Shelton and Oxon parish near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, told Sky News: "We are praying that they will be home soon with their families. We're asking the whole community to pray for them."

Since their arrest, footage of two members of the group, apparently confessing to illegally entering Iranian territory, has been broadcast on TV.

Royal Marine Nathan Thomas Summers was shown "apologising" for entering Iranian waters "without permission".

Leading Seaman Turney also featured in several videos and letters, purportedly written by her.