Sorry - Simple SIP-Manip question

I am doing a sip manip.

I need any calls that start +697[0-9][0-9](.*) to be changed to +(.*)
example: From - +69710447826956 needs to become +447862956

Now my match-value of +697[0-9][0-9](.*). gives me
447826956 in $1

How do I set the new-value to be +447826956
I cant get + accepted as the start of the new-value

Please point out the bleeding obvious to me on this Friday.

What I have at the moment for the element-rule is:
element-rule
name modFrom
parameter-nametype uri-user
action replace
match-val-type any
comparison-type pattern-rule
match-value \+697[0-9][0-9](.*)
new-value $1

And I get 447826956