Arvand Kenar, Khuzestan prov, Dec 12, IRNA -- Iran Sunday released an
Iraqi tanker which it had intercepted last month for navigating in the
Iranian waters in Arvand river, but its 10-member crew are still held
in custody, an informed source said here.
The source said the sailors are being held on charges of carrying
fire arms and illegal navigation in the Iranian waters on the order of
a local court.
According to the source, the tanker was shipping 6,000 tons of gas
oil in Arvand river bordering Iraq, when it was seized by Iranian
border guards and its crew were arrested last month.
In June, Iranian naval guards seized three British vessels in the
country's territorial waters in Arvand river and detained eight
sailors.
The servicemen, two Royal Navy sailors and six Royal Marine
commandos, were later released.
Their equipment reportedly consisted of personal weapons, radios
and navigation equipment, including echo sounders to measure the depth
of the water, global positioning systems to identify the exact
position and up-to-date maritime charts.
The Times newspaper has said that Iran had agreed only 'in
principle' to return the boats, but that there had been little
progress about the manner in which they would be given back.
Iran has been wary of the occupation forces' presence on its
doorsteps in Iraq and carefully watched their movements.
Tehran, while opposing Iraq's invasion, took a position of 'active
neutrality' at the time of the attack.
... Payvand News - 12/13/04 ... --
