- Title: AT SEA/LIBYA: Seized oil tanker Morning Glory arrives in Libyan capital
- Date: 23rd March 2014
- Summary: AT SEA (MARCH 23, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MORNING GLORY OIL TANKER AT SEA AT SEA ON BOARD MORNING GLORY, LIBYA (MARCH 23, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TANKER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LIEUTENANT COLONEL, SALIM ASH-SHWIRF, SAYING: "We took over the tanker from US forces in international waters today at approximately 1030am." VARIOUS OF DAMAGE CAUSED TO TANKER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LIEUTENANT COLONEL, SALIM ASH-SHWIRF, SAYING: "Now all the individuals arrested will be referred to the relevant judicial authorities." VARIOUS OF WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION SEIZED ON BOARD TANKER DETAINED CREW MEMBERS WALKING OUT OF DOORWAY DETAINED CREW MEMBERS STANDING IN CORNER DETAINED CREW MEMBER SHOWING HIS PASSPORT / SAYING HIS NAME AND SAYING HE IS SYRIAN DETAINED CREW MEMBER'S HANDS HOLDING PASSPORT VARIOUS OF DETAINED CREW MEMBERS WALKING ONTO DECK DETAINED CREW SEATED ON DECK LIBYAN SOLDIER WITH GUN DETAINED CREW MEMBERS SEATED ON GROUND IN TANKER DECK TRIPOLI, LIBYA (MARCH 23, 2014) (REUTERS) DETAINED CREW ARRIVING IN CAPITAL AMID HEAVY SECURITY DETAINED CREW MEMBERS TAKEN OFF VESSEL AS THEY ARRIVE IN CAPITAL
- Embargoed: 7th April 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Libya
- Country: Libya
- Topics: Conflict
- Reuters ID: LVAABGMWL4NJCUFX5YU5XWNQ1TVA
- Story Text: A commercial oil tanker seized by U.S. forces after it loaded crude at a Libya port held by anti-government rebels has docked back in the capital Tripoli, a Reuters witness said on Sunday (March 23).
U.S. special forces boarded the tanker a week ago off Cyprus, days after it left Es Sider port, which is controlled by rebels who demand more autonomy and oil wealth in defiance of the central government.
A Reuters reporter was allowed to board the Morning Glory moored near the Tripoli coast, witnessing how Libyan navy forces arrested the 21-strong crew and three rebels who had boarded the ship at Es Sider.
It was a rare victory for Tripoli, which is struggling to end a port blockade by rebels, one of many challenges facing the central government which has failed to secure the North African country three years after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.
Former anti-Gaddafi rebels and militias refuse to surrender their weapons and often use force or control of oil facilities to make demands on a state whose army is still in training with Western governments.
Tired-looking Pakistani captain Mirza Noman Baig showed navy personnel the damage resulting from a fire fight with the Libyan navy before the vessel escaped from Libya.
Libyan soldiers removed the crew on a small boat where they huddled in the open in the back on their way to Tripoli port.
"Now all the individuals arrested will be referred to the relevant judicial authorities," said Lieutenant Colonel Salim ash-Shwirf, standing on the tanker.
The crew declined to give interviews but the family of the captain said armed Libyan rebels boarded the ship, forced them to load crude and to evade the Libyan navy sent to stop them.
The Reuters reporter was shown two rifles, three pistols and bags full of ammunition in the crew's office. The rifles belonged to the three rebels, who had been handcuffed, a navy officer said.
The tanker carried no flag. The ship, which had been North Korean-flagged until Pyongyang denied knowledge of the vessel, was due to arrive later at Libya's Zawiya port, where its cargo of crude will be fed into the Zawiya refinery. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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