Tuesday, December 27, 2005

French Diplomat Meets with Detained Frenchman

China Daily:
A French diplomat has met with a Frenchman detained by Iran and held thousands of kilometers (miles) from Tehran, authorities said Monday. The Frenchman was in good health after being picked up along with a German man in the Straits of Hormuz off Iran while they were on a fishing trip November 29, France's Foreign Ministry said.

"A member of our embassy was able to meet our compatriot ... and made sure that he was in good health," ministry spokesman Denis Simonneau said. He did not specify when or where the meeting took place.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said Sunday the that two men had been detained for "illegal entry into Iran's territorial waters" and that their rights were being respected, but were being questioned. READ MORE

Germany and France, along with Britain, have been leading European diplomatic efforts to address concerns over Iran's nuclear program.

Simonneau, addressing reporters in a news briefing Monday, insisted there was "no link" between the case of the two Europeans detained and nuclear talks.