Lebanese justice seizes a ship carrying “stolen” Ukrainian cereals

The “Laodicea” in the port of Tripoli, Lebanon, July 29, 2022. AP

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Lebanese justice ordered this Saturday July 30 the seizure of the ship

Laodicea

, flying the Syrian flag, which docked at the port of Tripoli, in the north of the country, with on board 5,000 tons of barley and as much flour.

Ukraine accuses Russia of having “ 

stolen

 ” these cereals, which Moscow denies.

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With our correspondent in Beirut

,

Paul Khalifeh

The Lebanese authorities finally gave in to strong pressure from Ukraine and other Western countries.

They sealed the Syrian ship carrying the cargo of barley and flour.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said Beirut had received " 

numerous warnings and complaints from several Western countries

 " about the case.

However, he added that Lebanon " 

is not yet able to determine the origin of the food

 " transported by the

Laodicea

, which docked in the port of Tripoli on Thursday.

The Ukrainian ambassador had assured that the cargo had been “ 

stolen

 ” by Russia, which the Russian embassy in Beirut denied.

A Lebanese customs official for his part told the press that " 

the papers of the goods were in order and that there was no proof that they had arrived in Lebanon stolen

 ".

While waiting for the end of the story, the prosecutor ordered the seizure of the cargo and the opening of an investigation.

This decision has provoked a wave of criticism on social networks, especially since it comes as Lebanon, out of stock of flour, is hit by a severe shortage of bread.

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