June 19th, 2012
10:17 AM ET

Syria-bound Russian ship turning back, British diplomat says

[Updated at 11:26 a.m. ET] A Russian cargo ship reported to be carrying arms to Syria is turning back, Britain's top diplomat said Tuesday.

"I am pleased that the ship that was reported to be carrying arms to Syria has turned back apparently towards Russia," British Foreign Secretary William Hague told the House of Commons.

U.S. officials have said that the Russian operator Femco's cargo ship, MV Alaed, was headed for Syria with attack helicopters and munitions for the al-Assad regime from the port of Kaliningrad. The vessel had been off the north coast of Scotland, according to ship tracking data.

Hague commented on a ship during questions about the fighting in Syria during a wide-ranging House of Commons question-and-answer session about foreign policy. He didn't name the vessel.

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Filed under: Russia • Syria • United Kingdom
soundoff (37 Responses)
  1. SkyKing

    Hmmm.
    No insurance if it mysteriously sinks.
    I wonder what would cause that.
    I wonder what happened in that intense 2-hour discussion yesterday between the President of the United States and the President of Russia from which both leaders emerged not looking too happy.

    June 19, 2012 at 11:25 am | Report abuse |
  2. paul canada

    world leaders are sitting on thier hands while that dictator slaughters his people, tell russia and china to go to hell, and go in there and end that mess, those people/civilians have a right to life they can only live it once,

    June 19, 2012 at 11:26 am | Report abuse |
    • zufre2b

      Just like we've cleaned up Afghanistan and Iraq right?

      June 19, 2012 at 11:35 am | Report abuse |
    • TonyInNYC

      It sounds like you've got strong reasons for intervening in their civil war, and I applaud your bravery for volunteering to go there and fight, which I'm sure will be bloody and awful. I think most countries, including the United States, are inclined to keep out if they can.

      June 19, 2012 at 11:51 am | Report abuse |
    • giff

      We tried to do that sort of thing for Iraq. Did not work out...

      June 19, 2012 at 11:57 am | Report abuse |
  3. marcus

    I guess Putin understands that English! Putin looked embarrassed and he should be!

    Way to go Commander and Chief

    June 19, 2012 at 11:31 am | Report abuse |
  4. jorge washinsen

    Putin wants trouble to get the population at home off his rear end.

    June 19, 2012 at 11:38 am | Report abuse |
  5. jorge washinsen

    We aint got an argument.Pot can not call Kettle black. Winners write histories of war and fashion the rope.losers stretch it.

    June 19, 2012 at 11:41 am | Report abuse |
  6. jorge washinsen

    I hope Obama does not trust Putin.He may have a glass desert to land on when he returns to Washington.

    June 19, 2012 at 11:45 am | Report abuse |
  7. chilly g

    after the russian leader met with our president obama he was told by mr obama that his policy in syria has to change
    because the world is watching and in the long run the peoples will win in syria.

    June 19, 2012 at 11:48 am | Report abuse |
  8. Sail Frog 69

    Russian ships are only good for "turning back".

    June 19, 2012 at 1:38 pm | Report abuse |
  9. HIDE BEHIND

    Odd how those Peace loving Cannuks have become saber rattlers.especially when other nations foot the bills.
    How have the Canadian contingents in Hati s UN peacekeepingp misdion holding up.
    Been more than once simce Canada aided US in it'd ciup that removed an elwcted President that they have busted a few caps on unarmed people.
    Excuse me but you know what, the group who are revolting are not innocent babes when it comes to atrocity either, and that report comes from the Weeping Willows and Willys who believe UN is worlds saviors.own in country reports.
    They whochose open armed rebellion, no matter if foreign financed or domestic should. of realized, once you pick up the gun the shootung begins.
    The Saudi backed group has already won.and the backdown of Russias legal arms shipment nailed it.
    Those who still think commies are trying to take over world and the US is only nation that can save the world from such godless hordes, todays date is 2012 not 1946.

    June 19, 2012 at 2:15 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Frank

    People of the World,
    Don't kid yourselves, with the Russians having a reasonibly good airlift capabilty in that region.Arms and attack choppers will come in by air.

    June 19, 2012 at 6:38 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Dana

    Maybe it's time for them to run through any blockade, especially a brit one.

    June 19, 2012 at 8:30 pm | Report abuse |
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