Bahrain on Wednesday released a ferry carrying 150 people from Iraq to Dubai it had briefly detained after a passenger was accused of killing the ship's chief purser in an argument, officials said.
They said a Bahraini, accused of killing the Sudanese chief purser, was also freed temporarily and would be arrested in Dubai by United Arab Emirates authorities.
"Since the incident happened in international waters outside Bahraini territorial waters, the captain of the ship decided to hand over the suspect to the UAE authorities because the ship carries the UAE flag," one official said.
"The Bahraini government is likely to ask for his extradition to stand trial in Bahrain," the official added.
Dubai-based Naif Marine Services said earlier the ferry was detained on Tuesday at Bahrain's Mina Salman, the island's main sea port, where it had docked as part of its route.