By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 11 March 2014:
Confusion surrounds the fate of the North Korean-flagged oil tanker that left Libya this morning . . .[restrict]after loading an illegal shipment of oil. It is said to be on fire after being hit by a missile. Another report says that it was boarded by the Italian navy. However, Italian officials have denied this.
“Part of the ship is burning because it was shot at,” General National Congress (GNC) member Abdullah El-Kabier told the Libya Herald. He was unable to give more details or identify who had fired on the tanker.
The fire has been confirmed by a senior Libyan navy official but is denied by shipping sources.
El-Kabier said that the GNC was so upset with how the oil tanker crisis had been handled that they decided today to hold yet another vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Ali Zeidan.
Zeidan had announced that the vessel would be bombed if it did not comply with Navy orders, sparking international concern. The Air Force later refused to follow this instruction.
The Morning Glory docked at Sidra oil export terminal in the east of the country on Saturday morning. Sidra is one three oil ports that have been under the control of federalists under the control of Inbrahim Jadhran.
The vessel allegedly loaded 230,000 barrels of oil and attempted to leave Sidra last night. It was allegedly intercepted by military forces last night and was being. However, in the early hours of this morning, it appears to have managed to escape from its escort and sailed into international waters. [/restrict]
