Body of killed Iranian sailor due in Iran by weekend

Hedayatollah Mirmoradzehi told IRNA on Wednesday that negotiations made by the Iranian Ministry of Agricultural Jihad, the head of Iran Fishery Organization and the foreign minister prepared the ground for the return of the body of the Iranian sailor.

An Iranian fishing boat was sailing off the Somali coast in the extra-territorial waters on October 6 when the Somali coast guards opened fire on it.

The shooting killed the captain and injured another sailor who was detained along with other 16 sailors on board the boat.

Negotiations are still underway to secure the release of the other Iranian sailors detained by Somali border guards, Mirmoradzadeh said.

Ali-Asghar Mirshekari, the deputy governor-general of Sistan-Balouchestan province told IRNA few days ago that the detention of the Iranian sailors in extra-territorial waters is illegal and will be pursued by the Foreign Ministry.

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