A “serious diplomatic spat?” In the days before multiculturalism and political correctness sapped the moral clarity from Western society, this would have been a casus belli: Iran to Prosecute UK Sailors - Iranian TV.

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Eight British sailors seized in Iranian waters appeared in blindfolds on Tuesday on Iranian television which said Tehran would prosecute the group, as the border incident escalated into a serious diplomatic spat.

The British government summoned Iran’s ambassador to London and called for the Britons’ release. “The ambassador was asked why the eight are being held, for their release as soon possible and for full consular access to them meanwhile,” a Foreign Office spokesman said.

The eight were arrested on Monday on the Shatt al-Arab waterway which marks the southern stretch of Iraq’s border with Iran. Britain said the group were training Iraqi police and were on a routine mission delivering a boat to an Iraqi river patrol.

But Iran’s Arabic-language news channel al Alam, which broadcast pictures of the naval personnel, said equipment found on their boats indicated that they were not “regular sailors.”

“Their weapons, instruments, large equipment, machineguns and sub machineguns, and the flag of their special naval unit indicate that they are not regular sailors, according to the Iranian officer. Their mission is still unclear,” said al Alam. Quoting unnamed Iranian military sources al Alam said the men would be prosecuted on charges of “illegally entering Iran’s waters.”

British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s spokesman said: “We want to resolve this situation as quickly as possible … We have asked for full details and access to them.”