Basra governor on Iran releasing Iraqi coast guards

Muhammad al- Waeli, the governor of Basra in south Iraq said that Iran was to release yesterday 8 Iraqi coast guards and the body of a ninth held by the Iranian forces since Saturday in Shatt al-Arab coastal area.

Al-Waeli explained that a delegation from the governorate council "will be heading for al-Shalamijah border crossing to receive the nine soldiers and the body of the soldier who died because of his wounds."

Al-Waeli confirmed that the release of the soldiers came after "an agreement between the two countries authorities."

The governor of Basra had accused the Iranian forces of killing and kidnapping other 8 in confrontations with the coastal security forces in Iraq while they were chasing a smugglers' ship.

He explained that the Iraqi coast guards went into a ship manned by Iranian sailors suspected of smuggling oil in the Iraqi waters, but an Iranian ship had intercepted them.