Search for survivors as cargo ship sinks

A dozen people were rescued, with many more missing, after a cargo ship sank in stormy seas off the Lebanese coast, it has emerged today.

Vessels from the Lebanese navy and a UN peacekeeping force in the country were trying to find other survivors from the sunken ship, which was believed to have been sailing from Uruguay to the Syrian port of Tartous.

Officials said the Panama-flagged vessel, believed to be carrying 83 people, sent a distress call yesterday afternoon and a Lebanese navy ship was dispatched. But by the time rescuers arrived the ship had sunk 11 miles (17 kilometres) off the coast.

Officials said Britain had been asked to send two helicopters from Cyprus to help with the search.