Indian Coast Guard Seizes Lebanese Ship

New Delhi, Jul. 9 2002 (INS News) -- Indian Coast guards seized an abandoned Lebanese merchant ship off the western coast and recovered at least two AK 47 rifles from it, a defence ministry official said

"The al-Murtada was seized by coast guard authorities on July 3," the official told AFP. "Preliminary search revealed two AK 47 rifles. A detailed search is still on." The official said al-Murtada was seized Wednesday some 170 kilometers off the coast of Ratnagiri in Maharashtra.

A security plane was sent immediately to track down the vessel while the coast guard ship Vijay set sail into the Arabian Sea to tow the boat and conduct a search.

"The two rifles were recovered from the abandoned ship on the first day," the official said. "All top investigating agencies are continuing the search." The official said the men controlling the ship likely escaped in smaller boats.

-- Sam Asharaf - South Asia Correspondent in Trivandrum, India
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