Iran Hands Over British Detainees

24 June 2004 -- Iranian authorities have handed over to British diplomats eight British Navy servicemen held in Iran.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office in London said the six Royal Marines and two British sailors accompanied by British consular officials had boarded a plane on their way to Tehran.

The eight, along with three vessels, were detained on 21 June in the Shatt Al-Arab waterway that runs along the Iran-Iraq border for allegedly straying into Iranian territorial waters.

Britain's Defense Ministry has said the eight were assisting in the training of Iraqi border guards.

(Agencies)