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A short note following the latest summary news reports. The Greek operated vessel "Man" was detained by the US Navy at the UN inspection point outside the entrance to the channel up to the port of Umm Qasr for 13 days. It was carrying 13,500 MT bagged EEC sugar loaded from Spain. It was carrying the usual copy of the UN 661 committee approvals. The MIF insisted that the ship had insufficient channels built into the stowage to enable their inspectors to verify that the ship was carrying nothing else. In normal practice, it is undesirable to create such inspection channels. Bagged sugar should be stowed as a single block stow for safety and stability reasons. Partly as a consequence of the delay in the high heat and temperatures of the Arab Gulf, much of the sugar has suffered from a cycle of condensation and caking. Only 3,500 MT has been discharged. The Iraqi State Trading Company for Foodstuff is contemplating rejection of the remaining 10,000 MT left on board. The continuing delays and extra costs of finding an alternative place to discharge and sell the sugar will cause the shipowners considerable loss. Amongst ships detained accused of smuggling was the "Georgios D". This ship has been held by the US Navy since 12th July on its departure from Umm Qasr after discharging cargo. Its crime? To take a delivery of 425 MT fuel oil (17 days supply for normal running) ordered by the Jordanian controlled charterers of the ship without realising that the Jordanians had not sought or obtained UN approval for the supply. The "Georgios D" was delayed for weeks before being permitted discharge on account of other disputes between the Jordanians and the Iraqis. Numerous approaches to the MIF Commander in Bahrain, the US State Department, the Greek and UK Foreign Offices have produced a bizarre picture of the US Navy making up the rules as it goes along, without thought or application of either general international legal criteria or stated US principles of the pursuit of a foreign policy actively seeking the application of human rights and democratic principles. Enquiry at the UN itself reveals that there is a measure of disagreement over whether it reasonable to permit the Iraqis to supply fuel to ships carrying their cargoes to Umm Qasr. The UK Foreign Office has so far failed to state whether they hold a view on this issue, and if so, what it is. Greetings to all, Mark Galloway -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk Full details of CASI's various lists can be found on the CASI website: http://www.casi.org.uk