*Bushehr,IRNA – Nine Iranian sailors were freed on Wednesday after twoyears of captivity in Saudia Arabia, according to the director of a localbranch of Iran Fisheries Organization in southern city of Bushehr.*

Speaking to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Hassan Ahmadi saidthat the sailors were fishing in the Persian Gulf somewhere between Farsiand Arabi Islands two years ago when their vessel was seized by the Saudicoast guards.

The owner of the vessel was shot by the Saudi coast guard, no sign of himhas been found yet, Ahmadi said.

The released sailors have no information on the destiny of the owner of thevessel, the official added.

Saudi officials said the reason for the seizure of the vessel and thearrest of its crew members was that they illegally crossed into the Sauditerritorial waters for fishing, according to Ahmadi.

Iran regularly deals with fishing vessels from neighboring countriesentering the Iranian waters mistakenly in a soft manner while someneighboring countries adopt tough measures against Iranian vessels enteringtheir territorial waters by mistake.