Watch for the rather ostentatious lack of torture
Iran Will Prosecute British Sailors
Tue Jun 22, 2004 06:07 AM ET
By Paul Hughes
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian state television said on Tuesday Iran would prosecute eight British sailors seized in its waters, a move likely to fan a minor border incident into a diplomatic crisis.
The British government immediately demanded an explanation from Tehran of the report. British officials have neither been given access to the men, detained Monday with their three boats, nor told where they are being held.
Quoting unnamed Iranian military sources, Iran's Arabic language news channel al Alam said the eight men were to be prosecuted on charges of "illegally entering Iran's waters."
"The British military officials were arrested after they entered 1,000 meters into Iranian waters. The British confessed that they were arrested when they were inside Iran's waters."
A Foreign Office spokesman in London said British officials were "trying to get the Iranians to explain" the report.
"They have got to come up with some answers to our questions and we are pressing them for answers," he said. Iranian officials have neither confirmed nor denied the al Alam report on prosecuting the Britons.
