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Cyprus unloads suspect weapons cargo from Iran
13 Feb 2009 10:39:24 GMT
 Source: Reuters
NICOSIA, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Cyprus unloaded a cargo of banned weapons-related material on Friday off a ship from Iran found to be in violation of U.N. arms sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Diplomatic sources say the Monchegorsk is carrying conventional weapons. The cargo will be stored in Cyprus, a government statement said.

"Storage of the cargo does not entail any risk," the statement said. It was not immediately clear how long the cargo would remain in Cyprus.

The ship has been detained off Cyprus, its flag-state, since Jan. 29 after it was boarded by U.S. naval personnel in the Red Sea. U.S. military authorities said the ship was travelling to Syria from Iran and had been carrying arms.

Cypriot and U.N. Security Council sources say the ship was carrying material from Iran prohibited under U.N. resolutions. Iran has denied the ship was carrying weapons.

Iran is under U.N. and U.S. sanctions over its nuclear programme, which Western powers suspect is aimed at making bombs but which Tehran says is for generating electricity.

Israeli media had reported the vessel was suspected of carrying weapons to arm Hezbollah in Lebanon or Hamas in the Gaza Strip. (Reporting by Michele Kambas, editing by Alison Williams)


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Last updated:Fri Feb 13 10:42:39 2009