Authorities in Cyprus have intercepted a ship on grounds it might be carrying weapons bound for Sudan's Darfur region, in violation of a U.N. embargo.
Cypriot officials said Tuesday that according to the ship's manifest, it is carrying explosives destined for Sudan. Authorities are investigating whether the cargo would breach the U.N. embargo.
The Antigua-and-Barbuda-flagged vessel has been anchored off the port of Limassol since June 11, when it was inspected after asking for refueling.
The U.N. Security Council imposed an arms embargo on Darfur in 2004, a year after rebels there took up arms against the Sudanese government. In March, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, accused Sudan's government of ignoring the ban.
The U.N. says up to 300,000 people have been killed in seven years of fighting and related violence in Darfur.
The International Criminal Court has indicted five people, including Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, for alleged war crimes in the region.
Sudan refuses to recognize the court. The Sudanese government puts the death toll from Darfur at 10,000.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
