MOSCOW, Aug. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Monday the navy will investigate the submarine accident that trapped seven crew members for three days after the sub got entangled with fishing nets and an antenna on the Pacific seabed.

    "The investigation will be very serious. We have formed a special commission to look into the actions of fleet forces and Defense Ministry officials," Ivanov said in Petropavlosky-Kamchatsky, regional capital of Kamchatka, where he flew in Sunday to cover the rescue operation of the stranded mini-submarine, the Interfax news agency reported.

    Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Vladimir Masorin will lead the commission, Ivanov added.

    The AS-28 mini-submarine, itself meant for rescue operations, got ensnarled Thursday night by fishing nets and an antenna of Russia's coastal monitoring system on the seabed off the Kamchatka Peninsula and was lifted to surface Sunday with all the crew members alive.

    The crew was salvaged at the end of an around-the-clock rescue operation that was assisted by a British Scorpio underwater vehicle, which was submerged to cut the entanglements.

    Russia was quick to ask for international help after the accident occurred. British and US airlifted remote-controlled, deep-diving Scorpio underwater vehicles, rescuers and other equipment to join the rescue work. Enditem