US ship fires to deter Egyptian boat in Suez

ISMAILIA (Egypt), 26 March — A cargo ship chartered by the US Navy opened fire when approached by an Egyptian motorboat late on Monday near the Suez Canal, and Egyptian and US officials gave conflicting reports on Tuesday on casualties. Egyptian security sources and witnesses said the gunfire killed an Egyptian trader on the motorboat and wounded two other people. The US Navy said it had recorded no casualties. The small Egyptian craft had been trying to sell goods to ships passing through the Suez Canal, the Egyptian sources said. The US Navy said the Global Patriot, on shortterm charter to the military, had fired warning shots near the Egyptian boat after it ignored verbal orders and a signal flare telling it to stay away. “Global Patriot was approached by several boats while preparing to transit the Suez Canal,” the Navy said in a statement. “The boats were hailed and warned by a native Arabic speaker on the Globa Patriot to advise them to turn away... One small boat continued to approach the ship and received two sets of warning shots 20-30 metres in front of the boat’s bow.” All shots were accounted for as they entered the water, and there were no reports of casualties, the Navy said.—