Britons held in Iran were eyeing Indian ship

Tehran, Mar 30: A group of 15 British naval personnel detained by Iran were seeking to inspect an Indian ship in Iranian territorial waters, a senior Iranian official was today quoted as saying by state television.

Britain insists the sailors and marines, who were detained on Friday, were in Iraqi territory when they were seized.

''Regarding the British soldiers the issue was not just about passing by (through Iranian waters). It seems that they intended to inspect an Indian ship which was in Iran's territorial waters,'' Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, was quoted as saying.

''Without announcing it to Iran, they entered into Iranian waters and stopped there,'' television quoted Larijani as saying.

He did not say why the Britons had been seeking to inspect the Indian vessel, nor did he give further details.

Britain has demanded the immediate release of its troops and requested consular access.

''After investigations are over, consular contact with these people will be possible. The British should accept that a violation has taken place and this will help us to investigate the next stages more rapidly,'' Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on state television.

Reuters