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Libyan Navy intercepts North Korean oil tanker

April 12, 2014 at 10:11 am

The Libyan Navy intercepted a North Korean oil tanker carrying 350,000 barrels of crude oil worth $30 million while it exited Es Sidra port west of Sirte without government permission on Monday.


The development came just hours after the Libyan parliament issued orders to launch a military operation to liberate three ports controlled by anti-government rebels a few months ago.

The Libyan navy spokesperson Qasim Ayub said on Monday that the Libyan navy boarded the Morning Glory oil tanker while exiting the Es Sidra port which is control by anti-government rebels and escorted it to Misrata post; east of the capital Tripoli.

Libya’s Naba’a news agency said the Libyan navy sent warning shots to the oil tanker when negotiations with the tanker’s captain failed to convince him to sail towards a government port.

Media reports said the Libyan navy moved from the Libyan cities of Misrata, Al-Khoms and Benghazi to prevent the tanker from leaving Es Sidra port loaded with illegal crude oil.

Libya’s Prime Minister Ali Zeidan earlier threatened that the army will bomb the tanker if it insisted on departing carrying the unauthorised oil.

A member of the anti-government rebels, Abed Rabbo Barasi, denied government claims saying they were still in control of the oil tanker and that armed boats affiliated with their troops were deployed near Es Sidra port while their forces were stationed west of Sirte city.

Libya has officially protested to the North Korean embassy in Tripoli saying the oil tanker carried the North Korean flag and sailed into Libya’s territorial waters without permission.

Libya’s oil and gas minister Omar Alchukmak said unconfirmed reports suggest the tanker belonged to a Saudi Arabian company.

The US expressed grave concern on Monday saying the incident violates the law.