This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-23339020
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Seized N Korean ship: Cuban weapons on board | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Cuba has admitted being behind a stash of weapons found on board a North Korean ship seized in the Panama Canal. | Cuba has admitted being behind a stash of weapons found on board a North Korean ship seized in the Panama Canal. |
| The Cuban foreign ministry said the ship was carrying obsolete Soviet-era arms from Cuba for repair in North Korea. | |
| The ship was seized by Panama last week after "undeclared military cargo" was found hidden in a shipment of sugar. | The ship was seized by Panama last week after "undeclared military cargo" was found hidden in a shipment of sugar. |
| United Nations sanctions prohibit the supply of arms to North Korea in the dispute over its nuclear programme. | |
| However, a Cuban foreign ministry statement said Cuba reaffirmed its commitment to "peace, disarmament, including nuclear disarmament, and respect for international law". | However, a Cuban foreign ministry statement said Cuba reaffirmed its commitment to "peace, disarmament, including nuclear disarmament, and respect for international law". |
| It said the vessel was carrying 240 tonnes of obsolete defensive weapons - two anti-aircraft missile complexes, nine missiles in parts and spares, two MiG 21-Bis fighter planes and 15 MiG engines. | It said the vessel was carrying 240 tonnes of obsolete defensive weapons - two anti-aircraft missile complexes, nine missiles in parts and spares, two MiG 21-Bis fighter planes and 15 MiG engines. |
| The Cuban statement said they were all made in the mid-20th Century and were to be repaired and returned to Cuba. | The Cuban statement said they were all made in the mid-20th Century and were to be repaired and returned to Cuba. |
| "The agreements subscribed by Cuba in this field are supported by the need to maintain our defensive capacity in order to preserve national sovereignty," the statement went on. | "The agreements subscribed by Cuba in this field are supported by the need to maintain our defensive capacity in order to preserve national sovereignty," the statement went on. |
| Cuba said the ship was mainly loaded with 10,000 tonnes of sugar. | Cuba said the ship was mainly loaded with 10,000 tonnes of sugar. |
| 'Historical ties' | |
| Relations between North Korea and Cuba, both communist countries, are considered close. A high-level military delegation from North Korea visited at the end of June and was received by President Raul Castro. | |
| Cuban media said they discussed "the historical ties that unite the two nations and the common will to continue strengthening them". | |
| Announcing the seizure of the vessel on Tuesday, Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli said it contained suspected "sophisticated missile equipment". | Announcing the seizure of the vessel on Tuesday, Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli said it contained suspected "sophisticated missile equipment". |
| He posted a photo of what looked like a large green object inside a cargo container on his Twitter account. | He posted a photo of what looked like a large green object inside a cargo container on his Twitter account. |
| The president said the 35-strong crew had resisted the search and the captain had tried to kill himself. | The president said the 35-strong crew had resisted the search and the captain had tried to kill himself. |
| Panama's Security Minister Jose Raul Mulino said the UN would be sending experts to continue the investigation and examine the issue of charging the crew with illegal weapons smuggling. | |
| The US "commended" Panama for its actions, and said it strongly supported a full inspection of the ship. | The US "commended" Panama for its actions, and said it strongly supported a full inspection of the ship. |
| The vessel, the Chong Chon Gang, was stopped near Manzanillo on the Atlantic side of the canal last week. | The vessel, the Chong Chon Gang, was stopped near Manzanillo on the Atlantic side of the canal last week. |
| It had left Russia's far east in April and travelled across the Pacific Ocean before entering the canal at the start of June, with Cuba as its stated destination. | It had left Russia's far east in April and travelled across the Pacific Ocean before entering the canal at the start of June, with Cuba as its stated destination. |
| The Chong Chon Gang had crossed the Pacific without its automatic tracking system switched on - a move described by the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner as highly suspicious. | The Chong Chon Gang had crossed the Pacific without its automatic tracking system switched on - a move described by the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner as highly suspicious. |