Alleged Ship of Weapons to Gaddafi: Washington Investigates, Algeria Denies

Algeria has “firmly” denied reports alleging that it has permitted a ship carrying weapons to the regime of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, to dock in Djen Djen port, in Jijel province, eastern the country.

Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, Amar Belani, told Echorouk reporter that “Algeria denies categorically such baseless and malicious information, which is circulated by some parties inside the opposition in Libya to offend Algeria and push her under international diplomacy pressures.”

He added that “Algeria is fully committed and adhered to the two UN resolutions 1970 and 1973 regarding the Libyan crisis,” stressing that “Algeria has been among the few countries which dealt positively with the resolutions.”

Mr Belani’s statement has come as response to reports saying that “the US is investigating reports that a ship carrying weapons for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s forces was allowed to dock in Algeria.

Reuters news agency has quoted a State Department official as saying that “it would be considered a violation of U.N. resolutions.” 

Reuters said “the United States called on Algeria, if it was aware of the shipment, to stop it from reaching Gaddafi’s forces.”

Libyan opposition alleged that the ship was sailing under a Libyan flag, carrying weapons, and arrived on July 19 at the port of Djen Djen in Algeria, from where the cargo was being taken over the border into Libya.”

“We have heard reports that a ship carrying arms to Gaddafi’s regime was recently permitted to dock in Algeria and that these weapons are currently being transported overland into neighboring Libya,” the State Department official told Reuters.

“The United States government is working to ascertain the veracity of these claims, which have only just come to light. If true, this would likely constitute a violation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973.”

“The government of Algeria has told us on numerous occasions, and has stated publicly, that it has strictly adhered to all (U.N. Security Council resolutions) regarding the Libyan conflict,” the State Department official said.

“We call on the government of Algeria to continue stringent enforcement of these resolutions and, if aware of this particular shipment of arms, to ensure that it does not reach Colonel Gaddafi’s forces.”

The Portuguese U.N. mission, which is chair of the Libya sanctions committee, said it had not received any notification of the alleged violation.