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Iran Seizes 5 British Yacht Crew Members

Vessel nabbed en route from Bahrain to race in Dubai

By the Associated Press

Posted Nov 30, 2009 2:12 PM CST

(AP) – Iran is holding five British sailors after stopping their racing yacht in the Persian Gulf, the British government said today. The yacht, owned by Sail Bahrain, was stopped on its way from the tiny island country to Dubai on Wednesday when it "may have strayed inadvertently into Iranian waters," according to the Foreign Office. The seizure may be related to recent international pressure on Iran to drop its nuclear program, the AP reports.

The price of crude oil spiked on the news, rising $1.40, or 2%, to $77.45. The yacht had been set to compete in the Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Race last Thursday. The men are "still in Iran," according to the Foreign Office statement, and "believed to be safe," but it's unclear what their legal status is. Foreign secretary David Miliband says his office has been discussing the issue with Iran for nearly a week and hopes to have a resolution soon.

A map of the Persian Gulf.
A map of the Persian Gulf.   (Wikimedia Commons)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
Robert_Dada
Dec 1, 2009 12:46 PM CST
Yep genocide is the answer to everything (sarcasm)
Robert_Dada
Dec 1, 2009 12:13 PM CST
DLY - I used to think you were an idiot. I owe you an apology. You are not an idiot. You are an idiot's idea of an idiot.
Derni
Dec 1, 2009 12:10 PM CST
Uran could be eradicated if we gave the best airforce inb the world the green light..Israel

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