Iraqi Oil on Russian Ship Proved, U.S. Says
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WASHINGTON — Tests confirm that a Russian tanker seized by the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf was carrying Iraqi oil in violation of a U.N. economic embargo, Defense Secretary William S. Cohen said Sunday.
The Volgoneft-147 was being taken to Muscat, the capital of Oman, and the Omani government will determine the fate of the merchant vessel and its crew, Cohen told reporters while flying back from Germany, where he attended a conference on European security.
Cohen also said an Iraqi naval officer was on board the ship when it was seized Wednesday by U.S. Navy SEAL commandos on suspicion that it was carrying the illicit oil.
The Russian government has insisted that the oil was from Iran.
Cohen said the Russians were informed of the results of the tests but that he was unaware of any immediate response from Moscow.
U.S. ships form part of a multinational armada enforcing the 9-year-old embargo against Iraq.
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