TEHRAN, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Saturday angrily condemned the British authorities for its sailors "illegally" entered the Iranian waters Friday, describing the incident as an "interventionist and suspicious move" against Iran's sovereignty, the official IRNA news agency reported.

    Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini made the hardline remarks after London demanded return of its sailors and equipment and denied charges from Tehran.

    "This is an illegal and interventionist entry into Iranian territorial waters, it's a suspicious move and contrary to international rules and regulations," he was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency.

    "Violating the sovereign boundaries of other states and illegal entry denote unusual goals in violation of international commitments, the responsibility for which cannot be evaded under any justification," he added.

    Hosseini also accused the British side of trying to cover up their "illegal entry", saying British officials instead of making up for their blunders should try to refrain from putting the blame on others by way of "irrelevant interpretations".

    The British authorities have confirmed that 15 British naval personnel were seized Friday by Iranian forces when they were patrolling off the Iraqi borders.

    The incident took place when the British soldiers were engaged in routine boarding operations of merchant shipping in Iraqi territorial waters in support of UN Security Council Resolution1723 and the government of Iraq, said British officials.

    British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett insisted the soldiers were operating in Iraqi waters, summoned the Iranian ambassador in London and request Tehran to return the detainees.

    However, the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned British charge d'affairs Kate Smith to receive the firm protest for the actions and up to now showed no sign of a swift release of the sailors.

    According to local Fars news agency, the British sailors have been transferred to Iran's capital of Tehran for further investigations.

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    Detained British sailors transferred to Tehran

    TEHRAN, March 24 (Xinhua) -- 15 British sailors and marines, who were taken in custody by Iranian forces Friday at the bordering area between Iran and Iraq, have been moved to Iran's capital of Tehran for further investigations, the local Fars news agency reported Saturday.

    "The British sailors and marines who were detained for illegal entry of Iranian territorial waters and failing to respect international frontiers, have been transferred to Tehran on Saturday to explain their behaviors," said the report. A woman was among the detainees, the report added. Full story>>