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Freed arms ship due in Kenya port Freed weapons ship docks in Kenya
(about 4 hours later)
A ship packed with military cargo, freed after being held by pirates since September, is due to offload tanks and weaponry in the Kenyan port of Mombasa. A ship packed with military cargo, freed after being held by Somali pirates since September, has arrived at the Kenyan port of Mombasa.
Controversy still surrounds the freight on the Ukrainian-registered MV Faina. The MV Faina, released for a ransom of $3.2m (£2.2m), was met by Kenyan and Ukrainian government officials.
Kenyan authorities maintain the combat tanks and ammunition on the ship are new supplies for the Kenyan army. Controversy still surrounds the freight on the Ukrainian-registered vessel.
But experts say the cargo was for South Sudan. The vessel was freed by the Somali pirates earlier this month for a ransom reported to be $3.2m (£2.2m). Kenya maintains the combat tanks and ammunition on the ship are new supplies for the Kenyan army. But experts say the cargo was for South Sudan.
The BBC's Josphat Makori at port in Mombasa says security is tight as officials wait for the ship to dock. A parliamentary committee is investigating the issue.
He adds that Defence Minister Yusuf Haji and military staff are expected to be present, while embassy officials are also on their way to meet the crew of 17 Ukrainians, two Russians and one Latvian. BBC East Africa correspondent Karen Allen says if the allegations about Sudan are true, it would be a huge embarrassment for the Kenyan government, which helped broker a peace deal between the north and south of Sudan four years ago.
Secrecy MV FAINA Pirates seized the MV Faina on 25 September 2008Cargo consisted of 33 T-72 tanks, rocket launchers and small armsKenya claims the cargo; reports said it was for South Sudan class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7872946.stm">High stakes on Somali high seas class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7657359.stm">Pirates reveal Sudan's arms race
The arrival of the MV Faina has become a huge public spectacle, with the media invited to witness the event.The arrival of the MV Faina has become a huge public spectacle, with the media invited to witness the event.
This is in sharp contrast to the secrecy that has surrounded the ship and its cargo since it was hijacked off the coast of Somalia back in September.This is in sharp contrast to the secrecy that has surrounded the ship and its cargo since it was hijacked off the coast of Somalia back in September.
MV FAINA Pirates seized the MV Faina on 25 September 2008Cargo consisted of 33 T-72 tanks, rocket launchers and small armsKenya claims the cargo; reports said it was for South Sudan class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7872946.stm">High stakes on Somali high seas class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7657359.stm">Pirates reveal Sudan's arms race The Kenyan authorities insist that the cargo of 33 T-72 combat tanks and thousands of rounds of ammunition are destined for the Kenyan military. The Kenyan authorities insist that the cargo of 33 T-72 combat tanks and thousands of rounds of ammunition are destined for the Kenyan military.
But international security experts say all the signs are that the cargo was bound for South Sudan. But international security experts say all the signs are that the cargo was bound for southern Sudan.
Kenya's military spokesman Bogita Ongeri told AFP news agency on Wednesday: "Those who had doubts about the contents and its destination should be there to witness.Kenya's military spokesman Bogita Ongeri told AFP news agency on Wednesday: "Those who had doubts about the contents and its destination should be there to witness.
"We will all be there to receive the Faina and our military cargo which will be offloaded and taken in for safety in our respective military camps.""We will all be there to receive the Faina and our military cargo which will be offloaded and taken in for safety in our respective military camps."
A parliamentary committee is investigating the issue. Embassy officials have turned up to meet the crew of 17 Ukrainians, two Russians and one Latvian.
If the allegations about Sudan are true, it would be a huge embarrassment for the Kenyan government, which helped broker a peace deal between the north and south of Sudan four years ago.
The captain of the ship died two days after it was seized by the pirates but the cause of his death is not yet clear and his body still needs to be repatriated.The captain of the ship died two days after it was seized by the pirates but the cause of his death is not yet clear and his body still needs to be repatriated.
Ukrainian television channel ICTV reported on Wednesday that special services sources have suggested the captain may have been poisoned to conceal the cargo's destination.Ukrainian television channel ICTV reported on Wednesday that special services sources have suggested the captain may have been poisoned to conceal the cargo's destination.