Russia slams UK over arms ship

Russia has harshly criticised Britain for pressuring a Russian-operated ship heading to Syria with a load of weapons to turn back.

Moscow said it would not observe European Union sanctions on the Arab state.

Russia has continued to provide its long-time ally Syria with weapons and diplomatic support despite the Syrian regime’s violent crackdown on a popular uprising that began in March 2011.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that a British insurer’s decision to remove the ship’s coverage reflected the “unreliability of the British insurance system”.

He told Ekho Moskvy radio the ship was carrying air defence systems and three refurbished helicopters to Syria, arguing the shipment was entirely legitimate.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich says the ship is now heading to the Russian port of Murmansk.