http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7007714565
Iranian Navy Attempts To Capture Australian Sailors Repelled
June 21, 2007 7:38 p.m. EST
Richard Bowden - AHN News Writer
Canberra, Australia (AHN) - Prime Minister Howard has said he will seek more information about a reported attempt by the Iranian navy to capture an Australian navy boarding party in the Persian Gulf. The incident took place before 15 British sailors and Royal Marines were captured by Iranian Revolutionary Guards in March and was "vigorously repelled" by the Australians according to military sources.
The BBC, quoting unnamed military sources, said the attempt to capture the Australian boarding party searching a cargo boat was repelled when the Australians re-boarded the boat they had been searching, aimed their machine guns at the Iranians and called on them to back off. The Iranians withdrew however the lesson learned from the capture attempt seemed not to have been learned by British military patrols said the BBC.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said to Channel Seven he was unable to confirm the report however would, "be getting some further advice later this morning."
He praised the work of the Royal Australian Navy in the Gulf saying, "The only thing I can say is that the people we have in the Gulf are engaged on very dangerous work. The Royal Australian Navy has done a fantastic job and a very courageous job."