Cyprus finds air defense systems on Syria-bound ship

NICOSIA - A ship bound for Syria from North Korea and detained in Cyprus on an Interpol alert for suspected arms smuggling was carrying air defense systems, Cypriot authorities said Monday.

Officials said the shipment, billed as weather-observation equipment, has been claimed by the Syrian government.

The Panamanian-flagged Gregorio 1, which has been under police and military checks in Cyprus for almost a week, was carrying 18 truck-mounted mobile radar systems and three command vehicles.

"The radars on the 18 trucks appear to be part of an air defense system," a police spokeswoman said.

"For our part, inquiries have been concluded. Customs is handling the matter with the Foreign Ministry," she said.

Releasing the cargo would require clearance from customs, since the freight manifest said the vessel was carrying metereological equipment and not military hardware.

Experts ruled that metal pipes also found on board were for irrigation purposes, the spokeswoman said.

The Gregorio 1, which experts say has changed name and flag five times over the past five years, was initially detained by Cyprus on September 5 on an Interpol alert for possible involvement in arms smuggling.

It had initially set off from North Korea. It then left on the final leg of its journey from Port Said in Egypt to Latakia in Syria when it entered Cypriot territorial waters to refuel.

Syria is not subject to any United Nations restriction on arms acquisitions, but the country's borders with Lebanon are believed to be a key conduit in the past for weapons supplies to Lebanese-based Hezbollah guerrillas.

	Cypriot authorities patrolling alongside a Syrian-bound ship detained in Limassol last week. (AP)