Five British yachtsmen have arrived in the United Arab Emirates within hours of their release. Iran detained the crew after their vessel mistakenly strayed into its territorial waters last week.
The men arrived on shore in Dubai on Wednesday night, flashing smiles, waving at the cameras and looking relaxed. Britain said it was delighted with Wednesday's release and praised Tehran's handling of the incident.
The crew were en route from Bahrain to Dubai to take part in a race when their yacht developed a propeller fault. It drifted into Iranian waters and was seized by the elite Revolutionary Guard's navy.
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British sailors from left to right, Sam Usher, Luke Porter and Oliver Smith, seen, during a press conference at Dubai International Marine Club in Dubai after being released by Iran, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009. Iran freed five British sailors detained last week when their racing yacht drifted accidentally into Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf. Britain said it was delighted with Wednesday's release and praised Tehran's handling of the incident.(AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili) |