Russian ship defies Western pressure

Moscow defied Western pressure over Syria on Thursday, announcing that a cargo ship would deliver weapons to the country under the Russian national flag despite being forced to abandon its voyage when Britain withdrew insurance cover.

The MV Alaed turned around in the North Sea, about 50 miles from the Scottish coast, after its London-based insurer withdrew third-party liability cover. The British authorities forced this move, suspecting that the ship was taking arms to President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

The Russian foreign ministry confirmed yesterday that the ship was carrying three MI-25 attack helicopters, newly reconditioned under a contract with Syria's armed forces, and an air defence system.

But the vessel, now bound for the port of Murmansk, will be re-flagged under Russian colours and then sent to Syria to complete the delivery. "[The helicopters] are the property of the Syrian side and must be returned to the Syrian Arab Republic after repairs," said a foreign ministry spokesman in Moscow.

Sergei Lavrov, the country's foreign minister, told a Russian radio station that Moscow "will continue to fulfil contracts to supply weapons to Syria". The helicopter gunships are believed to be part of a batch that Russia sold to Syria 20 years ago. They have recently undergone routine upgrades.

The MV Alaed had been sailing under the flag of Curacao in the Dutch Antilles. In theory, Britain could have boarded the vessel by obtaining permission from the Dutch government. Once the ship is sailing under Russian colours, however, the Kremlin believes that no such operation will be attempted.

The United Nations has not imposed an arms embargo on Syria, so the delivery would be legal under international law. But there is a European Union embargo — and British officials are understood to be willing to use this measure to stop any vessel carrying weapons to Syria that passes through UK territorial waters, which extend 12 nautical miles from the coast.

While Russia tries to arm Assad, the CIA is understood to have taken a more hands-on role in the rebel campaign against the Syrian regime. America has not supplied weapons itself, but US intelligence officers are believed to be identifying suitable opposition groups to receive arms from regional allies. CIA operatives in southern Turkey are helping to coordinate the delivery of automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and anti-tank weapons, paid for by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The aim is to ensure that weapons do not fall into the hands of fighters allied with al-Qaeda, an American official told the New York Times. The US has resisted calls to arm the rebels, but has provided non-lethal supplies. The CIA and the State Department have also helped rebel fighters to develop logistics routes to move supplies into Syria.

Turkey has begun to loosen restrictions on the quality and quantity of weapons being sent to the rebels through its territory. "The Turks are gradually allowing more powerful weapons into Syria," said a Middle Eastern official.

Turkey is concerned about possible Syrian retaliation, fearing that Assad could help Kurdish rebels from the PKK. A Western official in Washington said that assurances had been given that Turkey would not be "hung out to dry" if Syria were to strike back.