Iranian Military Seizes 15 British Sailors in Iraq Waters - washingtonpost.com

Iranian Military Seizes 15 British Sailors in Iraq Waters - washingtonpost.com: "Iranian Military Seizes 15 British Sailors in Iraq Waters

By Howard Schneider and Karin Brulliard
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, March 23, 2007; 11:46 AM

The Iranian military seized 15 British naval personnel in the waters off Iraq early this morning, the British Ministry of Defense said today in a statement posted to its Web site, heightening diplomatic tension at a time when Iran suspects western intelligence agencies of kidnapping some of its top military officials.

The British sailors, assigned to the frigate H.M.S. Cornwall, were conducting what the ministry described as 'routine boarding operations' of a merchant marine vessel when they were surrounded by Iranian military boats and escorted into Iranian waters.

The British boarding operation, according to the ministry's statement, was authorized under a United Nations resolution and supported by the government of Iraq."