BENGHAZI: Libya threatened Saturday to bomb a North Korean-flagged tanker, which is suspected of trying to load an illegal cargo at the Al-Sidra oil terminal, if the vessel does not leave port.
Militants blockading the terminal in eastern Libya had been trying to load crude aboard the ship, a lawmaker said earlier, in the latest challenge to the government control of exports.
Deputy Defense Minister Khaled Al-Sherif told AFP a “crisis committee” made up of government officials and lawmakers had issued an ultimatum for the ship to leave Libyan territorial waters.
“If the ship doesn’t comply, it will be bombed by the air force or intercepted at sea by the navy,” Sherif said.
An MP and committee member said the deadline 2 p.m. (local time) deadline had expired without any action being taken.
Militants seeking autonomy for Libya’s east, were trying to load a shipment of petroleum “outside the framework of the state,” said the GNC member, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Acting Oil Minister Omar Shakmak denounced the move as an “act of piracy.” “This is a violation of national sovereignty. It is up to the Defense Ministry to deal with this ship,” he told AFP, without elaborating.
The latest crisis erupted in July, when security guards at key oil terminals shut them down, accusing the authorities of corruption and demanding a more equitable distribution of oil revenues.
The situation has become more complicated as self-rule activists in the east have insisted on the right to export.
Saturday’s incident was the latest in a standoff between the government and militants over exports.
, which are the principal source of revenue for the North African country.
Militants blockading the terminal in eastern Libya had been trying to load crude aboard the ship, a lawmaker said earlier, in the latest challenge to the government control of exports.
Deputy Defense Minister Khaled Al-Sherif told AFP a “crisis committee” made up of government officials and lawmakers had issued an ultimatum for the ship to leave Libyan territorial waters.
“If the ship doesn’t comply, it will be bombed by the air force or intercepted at sea by the navy,” Sherif said.
An MP and committee member said the deadline 2 p.m. (local time) deadline had expired without any action being taken.
Militants seeking autonomy for Libya’s east, were trying to load a shipment of petroleum “outside the framework of the state,” said the GNC member, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Acting Oil Minister Omar Shakmak denounced the move as an “act of piracy.” “This is a violation of national sovereignty. It is up to the Defense Ministry to deal with this ship,” he told AFP, without elaborating.
The latest crisis erupted in July, when security guards at key oil terminals shut them down, accusing the authorities of corruption and demanding a more equitable distribution of oil revenues.
The situation has become more complicated as self-rule activists in the east have insisted on the right to export.
Saturday’s incident was the latest in a standoff between the government and militants over exports.
, which are the principal source of revenue for the North African country.
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