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Iraq Urges Iran To Free British Personnel

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Iraq Urges Iran To Free British Personnel

Hoshiyar Zebari

Hoshiyar Zebari (file photo)
(epa)
March 26, 2007 -- Iraq's foreign minister has called on Iran to free 15 detained British sailors and Royal Marines.

Hoshiyar Zebari's appeal came in a telephone conversation late on March 25 with his Iranian counterpart, Manuchehr Mottaki.Britain says the sailors and marines were conducting a routine search of shipping in a waterway that forms the southern border between Iraq and Iran.Iran says they entered Iranian waters illegally and that it is considering bringing charges against them.On March 25, British Prime Minister Tony Blair described the situation as "very serious" and said Iran's actions were "unjustified and wrong."

In a statement, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said Zebari told Mottaki that the British personnel were detained in Iraqi waters and called on Iran to deal with the case in a "wise way."


In comments on Iranian state television today, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mehzi Mostafavi denied reports that the sailors might be swapped for Iranian detainees detained by U.S. forces in northern Iraq. He said the Britons were being interrogated.


(Reuters)


Copyright (c) 2007. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org

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