Sports

Iran 'frees yachtsmen'

by Paul Conneally | December 1, 2009 at 11:15 pm

182 views | 40 Recommendations | 6 comments

Further to the unconfirmed report below it has now been confirmed that the yachtsmen were released early Wednesday morning 2nd December.

Britain's Foreign Office confirmed Wednesday that five British sailors detained by Iran after their racing yacht strayed into Iranian waters last week have been released.

Iran's official IRNA news agency reported that the sailors were released early Wednesday after an interrogation by authorities found their entry into Iranian waters had been a mistake.

"I welcome the fact this has been dealt with in a straightforward, professional way by the Iranian authorities," said U.K. Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

"Obviously, this has been a real ordeal for the young men and their families and I'm really delighted that it's over for them and that we can call the matter closed," he said.

Original Report below:

Iran has reportedly freed the five British yachtsmen being held after they strayed into Iranian waters.

These reports are as yet unconfirmed but are thought by diplomatic sources to be true.

The five were taking part in Dubai-Muscat Offshore Race on board the yact he Kingdom of Bahrain.

It appears that the Iranian investigators believe that the Yacht strayed into their waters after mechanical problems and had no 'mal-intent'.

There were worries that the political arguments Iran is embroiled in with the US and other western countries over their nuclear energy programme might have delayed any release of the yachtsmen.

Yachtsmen held - NowPublic coverage

Iran's official IRNA news agency said the five had been freed after an interrogation by authorities established that their yacht had entered Iranian waters "by mistake".

BBC correspondent Christian Fraser in Bahrain said he had spoken to Vanessa Bloomer, Mr Bloomer's wife, who said she had received no independent verification of the men's release.

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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 02:19 on December 2nd, 2009

This is good news once confirmed

YankeeJim

at 04:27 on December 2nd, 2009

Don't you think that people should hike and sail away from Iran?

Babel-Fish

at 04:14 on December 2nd, 2009

Notice respect within the no respect? They have just shown respect for innocent civilians, Iran held all the cards but in good faith let these innocent people go.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 04:12 on December 2nd, 2009

Britain's Foreign Office confirmed Wednesday that five British sailors detained by Iran after their racing yacht strayed into Iranian waters last week have been released.

Iran's official IRNA news agency reported that the sailors were released early Wednesday after an interrogation by authorities found their entry into Iranian waters had been a mistake.

"I welcome the fact this has been dealt with in a straightforward, professional way by the Iranian authorities," said U.K. Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

"Obviously, this has been a real ordeal for the young men and their families and I'm really delighted that it's over for them and that we can call the matter closed," he said.

The sailors were detained on Nov. 25 off the coast of Iran. They had been on their way to the 580-kilometre Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Race, which was to begin Nov. 26, according to the website of the 18-metre yacht's owner, Sail Bahrain.