Global General

Qatar releases detained Iranian sailors

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-05-30 17:23

TEHRAN - Iranian Ambassador to Qatar Abdollah Sohrabi said that Qatar has released 16 Iranian sailors arrested by coast guards for what it said "illegally crossing the maritime border," the English language satellite Press TV reported on Monday.

"Sixteen Iranian sailors and their boats, detained for illegal entry to Qatari waters by coast guards in March, have been released through efforts made by Iran's Embassy in Doha," Sohrabi said.

A Qatari court ordered the release of the sailors after "the detainees were cleared from the charges," he added.

"The Iranian sailors left Doha on Thursday, along with their fishing boats, and joined their families in Rostami port in Bushehr province," Sohrabi was quoted as saying on Monday.

According to the report, Qatar confiscated two Iranian fishing boats and their crews on March 24.