US Navy cargo ship opens fire

An American cargo ship under contract to the US Navy has opened fire on a small Egyptian boat while moving through the Suez Canal.

Egyptian authorities said at least one man was killed, but the US reports no casualties. The 'Global Patriot', which was under short-term charter to the navy's Military Sealift Command, had entered the canal from the Red Sea at Suez last week, when it was approached by several small boats. "The boats were hailed and warned by a native Arabic speaker using a bullhorn to warn them to turn away. A warning flare was then fired. One small boat continued to approach the ship and received two sets of warning shots 20 to 30 yards (18 to 27 metres) in front of the bow. An Egyptian security official at the canal said that after the warning shots, a man was shot dead in the small boat and that the three other men with him were wounded. Small boats selling products often swarm the civilian ships moving through the canal. Though the merchants know better than to approach military vessels, the 'Global Patriot' looked like a civilian vessel. The 'Global Patriot' is registered to the New York-based Global Container Lines. About 7.5 percent of world sea trade passes through the Suez Canal.

Read More