Piracy: US destroyer sinks Iraqi tanker

The United States of America has committed an act of piracy on the high seas in an attack on an Iraqi tanker. Crew members were murdered in this attack by a destroyer against a civilian vessel.

The Iraqi tanker, Samra, (1,734 tonnes) sailing under the United Arab Emirates flag, has been sunk in the northern Persian Gulf after it was attacked by the US destroyer Peterson stationed nearby.

The US Department of Defence confirmed that the civilian vessel was attacked and sunk under the UN sanctions on Iraq, which limits the quantity of oil exports. It is believed the Iraqi tanker was transporting oil for sale on the black market.

One Iraqi crew member has been confirmed dead by the Pentagon and three are missing. Two crew members of the Peterson are also reported missing.

Timofei BYELO PRAVDA.Ru