Ship 'carrying attack helicopters to Syria' halted
off Scotland heads for Russia
The UK has made moves to stop a cargo vessel
allegedly carrying refurbished Russian-made attack helicopters from completing its journey to Syria.
The MV Alaed had
its insurance withdrawn by The Standard Club in London while it was about 50 miles (80.4km) off Scotland's north coast.
Withdrawal of insurance
prevents the MV Alaed from sailing until its owner could secure new cover.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said
the ship was returning to Russia.
It was thought that the vessel had stopped for a time off the Western Isles.
The Russian embassy in London has not yet commented.
snip
The Standard Club said it believed the MV Alaed had been off the coast of the Western Isles when insurance was withdrawn.
It said
the cover was withdrawn because the owners of the ship had "broken internal rules" of the club - a mutual insurance association - and not on the instructions of the UK government.
The club said it had sought more information on the boat's cargo.
In a statement, it said: "
We were informed on Friday evening that the ship might be carrying weapons, in particular attack helicopters, missiles and non-specific munitions, and we are making inquiries to establish what their side of the story is.
"
There are exclusion clauses in our cover and, for anyone involved in improper or unlawful trade, we can cancel cover.
"We are investigating whether or not to do so in this case."
snip
Read more here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-18503421No wonder Putin looked so PO'd yesterday when he met with Obama.