Gadhafi Forces Seize Italian Ferry in Tripoli

[cali]

By STACY MEICHTRY

ROME—Forces loyal to Col. Moammar Gadhafi have seized an Italian ferry in the port of Tripoli, detaining its crew, a senior Italian official and the ship's owner said Sunday.

The crew of the Asso 22—eight Italians, two Indians and one Ukrainian—was detained Saturday evening by armed port guards who boarded the ship, according to Mario Mattioli, chief executive of Augusta Offshore spa, a Naples-based shipping company that owns the vessel.

"Unfortunately the Asso 22 has been caught up in this situation," Mr. Mattioli said, adding that he was in contact with Italian authorities about the matter.

The ship is one of several vessels that regularly ferry employees from a nearby oil rig operated by Italian energy company Eni SpA to Tripoli, Mr. Mattioli said. A group of Libyan Eni employees, who work on the rig, had taken the Asso 2 to Tripoli and safely disembarked on Saturday before the ship was commandeered, according to a person familiar with the matter.

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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704433904576212651807593220.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

[BeFree]

1. Eh?

"All is fair in love and war"

We basically declared war on someone, so no one should be surprised if they fight back.
Diplomacy is how you fight without resorting to war.
Diplomacy has failed again, so now it is war, eh?

[xchrom]

2. War rarely travels in straight line.

Now the world has ventured in - and Ghadafi's people are going
To do desperate things.

[cali]

3. yep. unforeseen consequences are a law of war.

[louis-t]

4. I'm surprized they attacked before the journalists were released.