Cyprus holding Sudan bound ship carrying tanks
June 22, 2010 (WASHINGTON) — The Cyprus government disclosed today that it is investigating a Barbuda flagged cargo vessel that stopped for refueling on June 11 at its port of Limassol on suspicion that it is carrying weapons heading to Sudan which could potentially be a violation to UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
The daily Phileleftheros, which broke the story, said the vessel was transporting tanks and large quantities of explosives, and was blocked after a tip-off from the United States. A spokesman at the U.S. embassy in Nicosia said Washington was not involved.
Phileleftheros said that the authorities in Cyprus are awaiting for a convincing explanation from the ship’s captain on the nature and destination of the cargo. The port police customs officers searched the ship and confirmed the presence of weapons on board.
However, the captain furnished documents showing that the tanks were destined for Singapore while the explosives were headed to Algeria.
The Cypriot Commerce Minister Antonis Paschalidis confirmed that the cargo ship had anchored outside the port of Limassol carrying banned military hardware and equipment.
“There is material [on board] which is considered prohibited from leaving Cyprus right now,” Paschalides said.
Asked about the cargo, Paschalides said: “I cannot specify right now what material it is, whether it is tanks, not tanks or other things, but there is definitely military material which comes under export control.”
Paschalidis said he expects a report later on Tuesday by the Police.
He further said that the ship had passed through four other ports before they arrive in Cyprus including Norway, Singapore , Germany and Spain.
The police Spokesman , Michael Katsounotos said in a statement that according to documents provided by the captain of the ship that its destination appeared to be Sudan and Singapore.
An official from Sudan’s foreign ministry on Tuesday told Reuters he had no information on the vessel in Cyprus.
A security source said authorities were investigating whether the cargo contravened a U.N. arms embargo on all armed groups operating in Sudan’s Darfur region, the site of a seven-year conflict pitting government troops and allied militias against rebel fighters.
The U.S. envoy to the United Nations, Susan Rice, in March accused Sudan of cavalier violations of the U.N.’s Darfur embargo.
Analysts last year also said Sudan’s northern and southern armies were building up arms as tensions mounted over a faltering 2005 north-south peace deal. Northern and southern authorities denied the reports.
In September 2008, Somali pirates captured a Ukrainian ship loaded with a cargo of Soviet-era T-72 tanks plus other weapons. The pirates and foreign diplomats said there was evidence the arms were bound for south Sudan. South Sudan’s government dismissed the report.
The European Union, of which Cyprus is a member, also has a blanket ban on arms shipments to Sudan.
(ST)
Jay
Cyprus holding Sudan bound ship carrying tanks
Which Sudan?
DASODIKO
Cyprus holding Sudan bound ship carrying tanks
Yeah war is not yet over! All Sudanese must taste the killing including the North Sudan . It has beeen said who is stung by a snake is Afraid of a rope in the night. The North Sudan collecting weapons to fight the people of the margin will be killed by the same weapons it has collected. Let us wait and see!!!!!!!!!!
Dinka Boy
Cyprus holding Sudan bound ship carrying tanks
Bashier government must know that SPLM/A is not playing this time by ballots or bullets.If we have fought the North for centuries,then their tanks are nothing to SPLA. 2011 is the last stage of everything, we all know about it. SPLM/A Oyeee
Dinka Boy
Cyprus holding Sudan bound ship carrying tanks
I know when food lovers and Nyamnyam heard something like this, they definitely planning for their safest umbrella( Khartoum). Sorry for you guys.
telfajbago
Cyprus holding Sudan bound ship carrying tanks
The fact that Sudan today has a military arsenal which is enough to invade Africa continent is clear indication that it had been violating the arms embargo imposed by the UNSC from the day one. Furthermore the anti-referendum sentiments of the regime also proves that war in Sudan is still far from over ,so the world body has to consider total regime change or else the will continue paying the receipts of Khartoum’s brutality and suppression.
M.Cool.J
Cyprus holding Sudan bound ship carrying tanks
Hey,
Somebody stupid not to know what is going on in Sudan?
Something somewhere is going to explode.
Akuma
Cyprus holding Sudan bound ship carrying tanks
United Nations and Bashir are brothers of promoting wars in Sudan because they have a possibilities to demantled all the army of SAF and other militias operating in Sudan.
It is not a secrete that United and Sudan government are giving guns to Bashir’s palace. But that could be the matter, what matter is the failure of United Nations Security councils who fail their sanction given to Sudan government. So, they Should not behaviour in the way they don’t UN doesn’t what Bashir is doing.
it is only God who create Southern Sudan people will make them to Survive those tredies from their partners, Arabs world have united in demantled Southern Sudan region to be Al-Jahid field for terrorism and kidnapping place. When Israel was figting Palastinian people, All muslims world reacted negatively over Israel due the bambarding of Paslistinian areas.
It will be big trouble war because Southern Sudan cammanders or leaders are moneyminded rather than thinking of country that killed thousands of people. Majority of people especially leaders from Government of Southern Sudan has bought houses in Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and even her outside the Continent of Africa, but that time of such war, there will no going out becuse all borders will be block by militias of Athor and Kony rebel from Uganda.
My advice to fellow Southerners is that, arabs have well equiped themselves and there is no where we can over coming them, so, the good alternatives way is to increases arny salary and recrruiting of young people into army as usual in 1988’s.
God will be our shield in all every things effecting us Southerners, we are his image like Israel.
Dr. Akuma,
USA
Wiyual Wech Puk D. Payol.
Cyprus holding Sudan bound ship carrying tanks
please make your statement to be full.which part of sudan having tanks loaded on ship,north or south? sudan is now like korea which has its country divided into north and south.more over south sudan may not load its tanks to Algeria which is an arab native by itself.not at all!!!.