The Iranian government Wednesday afternoon released the 15 British sailors and marines who it captured from the Persian Gulf in late March.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced Wednesday that his government would release the detained sailors and marines promptly. He said the release was unilateral, calling it a "gift to the British people."

An adviser to Iran's president said the sailors and marines would be handed over to the British embassy on Thursday and would then be taken to the airport, Iran's Mehr News Agency reported.

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"The released 15 British sailors will be handed over to the British embassy tomorrow [Thursday] and will leave for London," Mojtaba Samareh-Hashemi told the agency.

He said the Britons were now under the supervision of the Foreign Ministry.

Ahmadinejad said he had pardoned the sailors as a gift to the British people and to mark the birthday of Islam's Prophet Mohammed and Easter.

The White House issued a statement saying United States President George W. Bush welcomed the Iranian president's announcement.

Ahmadinejad pardoned the sailors and announced their release minutes after he gave medals of honor to the Iranian Coast Guard troops who intercepted the sailors and marines, saying Iran will never accept tresspassing of its territorial waters.

"On behalf of the great Iranian people, I want to thank the Iranian Coast Guard who courageously defended and captured those who violated their territorial waters," the president told a press conference.

He then interrupted his speech and pinned a medal on the commander of the troops involved in capturing the British sailors and marines in the northern Gulf on March 23. Two other troops came on to the podium and saluted during the ceremony.

"We are sorry that British troops remain in Iraq and their sailors are being arrested in Iran," Ahmadinejad said.

He criticized Britain for deploying Leading Seaman Faye Turney, one of the 15 detainees, in the Gulf, pointing out that she is a woman with a child.

"How can you justify seeing a mother away from her home, her children? Why don't they respect family values in the West?" he asked of the British government.

An official Iranian source said the Britons would be leaving Tehran airport on Thursday.

Iranian state television on Wednesday showed the British sailors talking to Ahmadinejad at the country's presidential palace apparently as they were being released.

The footage showed Ahmadinejad shaking hands with the sailors and smiling and chatting. A caption to the footage said the conversation was taking place as part of the process of release of the British sailors.

The sailors were wearing suits and spoke to the president through a translator.

"We appreciate it. Your people have been really kind to us, and we appreciate it very much," one of the seized sailors could be heard on the footage saying in English to Ahmadinejad.

One the sailors also was heard saying in English: "We are grateful for your forgiveness.

Ahmadinejad responded in Farsi "You are welcome."