Posted on 01/30/2002 4:24:41 AM PST by IcommGen
U.S. searches Syrian ships, finds nothing
BERLIN, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Sixth Fleet searched two Syrian-registered merchant vessels off Cyprus as part of Washington's anti-terrorism campaign but found nothing suspicious, the fleet said on Tuesday.
A statement issued by the U.S. European Command in Germany said the U.S. Navy had intercepted the merchant vessels Capten Mohamed and Hajji Rahmeh north of Cyprus on Sunday.
"Both merchant vessels had displayed suspicious behaviour and were under surveillance for several weeks," the statement said.
"In both cases the Navy requested and received permission from the merchant vessel master to board the ship and conduct an inspection of their cargo, cargo manifest and national registration documents."
"These operations are intended to deny the Mediterranean to anyone who would use it for any activities associated with terrorism," the statement said.
The Syrian transport ministry declined to comment on the incident, but said it might issue a statement later.
The Cyprus Merchant Shipping department said it had no knowledge of or involvement in the searches which it said did not occur within its territorial waters.
Last month, British police, navy and customs officers seized a cargo ship full of raw sugar in the English Channel on suspicion that it was bringing terrorist material to London. Police gave the all-clear after a four-day search revealed nothing untoward.
The navies of 10 countries are hunting Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda fugitives fleeing Afghanistan. Bin Laden is accused by the United States of being the mastermind behind the September 11 hijacked airliner attacks in New York and Washington.
Bin Laden remains at large despite the U.S. bombing campaign in Afghanistan and the fall of the Taliban regime that harboured him after the September 11 attacks, which left more than 3,000 people dead, destroyed the World Trade Center in New York and damaged the Pentagon near Washington.
07:03 01-29-02
But not ALL Muslim are terrorists!!!
(derisive laughter)
(/sarcasm)
Spoke to someone there who told me the story was originally broken by Al-Hayat in London and that the Syrians are very angry and have called in the U.S. ambassador.
Anyways, thanks for the confirmation. I didn't realize it was from yesterday because this is the first time I heard of it.
I'm beginning to recognize Arab syntax on sight.
SIGH...
Yet another set of names for the Muslim/Arabprop Tag Team?
I've got to admire the relentless persistence.
Hope you have lots of other names picked out for rejoining FR when you get booted this time...
I fail to see how a voluntary cargo inspection starts World War III.
Bless your heart, Billy Bob, you're as new here as a shiny penny and already speakin' right up!
(here's where you claim to be a 'long term lurker' going way back, and we pretend to believe you...)
Ah... yep...
Just like Poland started World War II.
Imagine getting in the way of madmen intent on world domination!
The nerve...
Pssst....
If WW III should commence, Muslim Mass Murderers started it.
Pass it on...
Show respect for our great president, or move your show to a DemocRATic website.
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