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Chinese Ship with Arms for Zimbabwe Docks in Angola


Angola's state news agency reports that a Chinese ship carrying arms for Zimbabwe has been allowed to dock in Angola, but the weapons will not be unloaded.

The ANGOP news agency reported late Friday that the ship was allowed to dock in Luanda to unload goods intended for Angola.

The news agency says the shipment of arms is not authorized to be unloaded in Angolan national territory.

The weapons shipment has caused an international outcry. Last week dock workers in South Africa refused to unload the ship for fear that Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe might use the weapons against political opponents.

On Thursday, China announced the shipment would be recalled. But Jiang Yu, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, also defended the shipment as a normal arms transaction.

Also on Thursday, South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu joined the call for an international arms embargo against Zimbabwe until the country's post-election crisis is resolved. He said the supply of arms could cause an escalation of violence in Zimbabwe.

Britain has also said it will push for an arms embargo. But South Africa's ruling party leader, Jacob Zuma, has rejected the idea, saying the situation does not yet call for it.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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