Iran releases eight Iraqi sailors held for a week

Eight Iraqi sailors detained by Iran after a weekend clash in a shared waterway were released early today, Iraqi officials said, but the body of a ninth sailor had not yet been repatriated.

The eight sailors were released early today through the Shalamcha border police station near Basra, said Gen. Ahmed al-Khafaji, deputy Iraqi Interior Minister.

The body of a ninth sailor who was killed was to be released tomorrow, al-Khafaji added.

Al-Khafaji also said two Iraqi boats detained by Iran during last Saturday’s clash were also to be handed over, but Basra Governor Mohammed al-Waeli claimed Iran was going to keep the vessels.

Iraqi officials had said the sailors were detained following a clash between Iraqi and Iranian coastguard ships near the Shatt al-Arab waterway, or Arvand River, in the Persian Gulf.

However, Iranian authorities have denied claims that an Iranian naval vessel fought a skirmish with an Iraqi coast guard ship, instead claiming that there was a clash between Iranian patrol boats and a merchant ship headed toward Iranian waters.