| BBC News | - |
Rebels who seized oil ports in eastern Libya
say they have loaded oil on to a North Korean-flagged tanker. The
Morning Glory docked at Sidra port earlier on Saturday, after a failed
attempt to dock on Tuesday.
8 March 2014
Last updated at 11:29 ET
This Libyan navy ship, the Ibn Auf fired
warning shots to prevent another, Maltese-flagged, oil tanker from
docking and loading crude at Sidra earlier in the week
"We started exporting oil. This is our first shipment," a rebel spokesman said. The rebels demand more autonomy - and oil wealth - for Libya's east.
Libyan officials confirmed to the BBC the Morning Glory had docked. They said the rebel move was an "act of piracy".
Analysts have said it is unlikely the ship is owned or controlled by Pyongyang.
Lawrence Dermody, a researcher in illicit trafficking for the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, told the BBC: "It's much more likely that it's a flag of convenience," adding that "it's really not a common flag - even in the Middle East."
Libya's state-owned National Oil Corp (NOC) had warned tankers
against approaching the port, and two others in Libya's volatile east
that are also controlled by armed groups.
It is not the first attempt to ship oil from the rebel-controlled port.
On Monday the Libyan navy ship Ibn Auf fired warning shots at a Maltese-flagged oil tanker to prevent it from docking and loading oil.
The owners of the ship complained it was fired on in international waters.
Libya's government has tried to end a wave of protests at oil fields and ports, which have slashed vital oil revenues, but there has been little progress in indirect talks between the government and former militia leader Ibrahim Jathran, now leading the protests.
His men seized three eastern ports last year, which previously accounted for 600,000 barrels of oil a day.
Libya is struggling with armed groups and tribesmen who helped topple Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 but who have kept their weapons.
The BBC's Rana Jawad in Libya says Mr Jathran's demands include an independent commission representing the three regions of Libya. He wants the commission to supervise the sale of oil and ensure the east gets a fair share of the revenue.
The government has so far not acted on threats to retake Sidra, or other rebel-controlled ports.
Libya's oil output has slowed to a trickle since the protests started in July last year, depriving the OPEC producer of its main budget source.
Libya rebels load oil on to North Korea-flagged tanker
This Libyan navy ship, the Ibn Auf fired
warning shots to prevent another, Maltese-flagged, oil tanker from
docking and loading crude at Sidra earlier in the week
Rebels who seized oil ports in eastern Libya say they have loaded oil on to a North Korean-flagged tanker.
The Morning Glory docked at Sidra port earlier on Saturday, after a failed attempt to dock on Tuesday. "We started exporting oil. This is our first shipment," a rebel spokesman said. The rebels demand more autonomy - and oil wealth - for Libya's east.
Libyan officials confirmed to the BBC the Morning Glory had docked. They said the rebel move was an "act of piracy".
Analysts have said it is unlikely the ship is owned or controlled by Pyongyang.
Lawrence Dermody, a researcher in illicit trafficking for the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, told the BBC: "It's much more likely that it's a flag of convenience," adding that "it's really not a common flag - even in the Middle East."
It is not the first attempt to ship oil from the rebel-controlled port.
On Monday the Libyan navy ship Ibn Auf fired warning shots at a Maltese-flagged oil tanker to prevent it from docking and loading oil.
The owners of the ship complained it was fired on in international waters.
Libya's government has tried to end a wave of protests at oil fields and ports, which have slashed vital oil revenues, but there has been little progress in indirect talks between the government and former militia leader Ibrahim Jathran, now leading the protests.
His men seized three eastern ports last year, which previously accounted for 600,000 barrels of oil a day.
Libya is struggling with armed groups and tribesmen who helped topple Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 but who have kept their weapons.
The BBC's Rana Jawad in Libya says Mr Jathran's demands include an independent commission representing the three regions of Libya. He wants the commission to supervise the sale of oil and ensure the east gets a fair share of the revenue.
The government has so far not acted on threats to retake Sidra, or other rebel-controlled ports.
Libya's oil output has slowed to a trickle since the protests started in July last year, depriving the OPEC producer of its main budget source.
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