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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Cyprus: Suspected Iran arms ship violates UN resolutions |
| 2009-01-31 |
| Cypriot authorities on Friday searched a cargo ship suspected by the United States of carrying Iranian arms to Hamas militants in Gaza. Officials refused to divulge any details about the ship or its cargo. The Cypriot-flagged container ship Monchegorsk is anchored off the island's southern port of Limassol, where it arrived Thursday after a stop in Port Said, Egypt. The U.S. military stopped the vessel in the Red Sea last week, but allowed it to continue because the U.S. could not legally stop its journey or seize its cargo. Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias said the ship had violated United Nations resolutions, but gave no details, saying only that the ship was being searched. "We're handling this responsibly, I can't at this time make any remarks that ... may create more problems," Christofias said. He added: "We are investigating what it's carrying and I've told you that we must handle these things very responsibly and very seriously and without a lot of clamor in the media." A European diplomatic source said Thursday that the Cypriot authorities had detained what he called an Iranian arms ship en route to Syria. The move apparently came after Israel and the United States requested that Cyprus stop the ship, based on suspicion that the boat was carrying a large amount of weaponry, including artillery rounds and rockets that Israel believes are destined for either Hezbollah or Hamas. The vessel left the Persian Gulf a few weeks ago and reached about 60 miles from Cyprus on Wednesday. Cyprus' Parliament Speaker Marios Garoyian described issues raised by ship as very sensitive. "Our aim is to resolve the matter in the best possible way without harming the interests of the Republic of Cyprus ... The less that is said the better," he said. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 we should encourage any politician who doesn't take the opportunity to bloviate. |
| Posted by: Hupeath Bonaparte3293 2009-01-31 12:23 |
| #1 we must handle these things very responsibly and very seriously and without a lot of clamor in the media." What am I bid for this boatload of bombs? Who'll give me $5 million? 5 and a half? 6? Give me 6, 6, going once... Sold to the gentleman in the back with the mask. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2009-01-31 09:22 |