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Iran detains five British sailors from racing yacht

Posted on 30 November 2009

Tags: a-racing-yacht, david-miliband, feeds, foreign-office, media, ministry, politics, racing, royal, royal-navy, uk news, world news

• Civilian crew seized on yacht sailing from Bahrain to Dubai • Government in contact with the Iranians – David Miliband Five British sailors have been detained in Iran after their racing yacht was stopped by the Iranian navy while sailing from Bahrain to Dubai, the Foreign Office said tonight. The civilian crew were seized last week while on a racing yacht sailing from Bahrain to Dubai after allegedly straying into Iranian waters. The Foreign Office said a racing yacht owned by Sail Bahrain and crewed by five British nationals, had been stopped by Iranian naval vessels on 25 November. The five crew members, whose families have been informed, are said to be safe and well in Iran. The foreign secretary, David Miliband, said the government was in contact with the Iranians. “FCO officials immediately contacted the Iranian authorities in London and in Tehran on the evening of 25 November, both to seek clarification and to try and resolve the matter swiftly,” he said. “Our Ambassador in Tehran has raised the issue with the Iranian Foreign Ministry and we have discussed the matter with the Iranian Embassy in London. I hope this issue will soon be resolved. We will remain in close touch with the Iranian authorities, as well as the families.” The Foreign Office said the yacht might have strayed “inadvertently” into Iranian waters. It is believed the sailors were heading to Dubai to join the Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Race

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Iran detains five British sailors from racing yacht

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