Lebanese president orders rescue of Palestinian aid ship

BEIRUT - Lebanese President Michel Suleiman gave orders Tuesday for the rescue of an aid vessel which had been destined for the Gaza Strip before it was reportedly rammed by an Israeli naval ship, Lebanese media have reported.

The boat, named ‘Dignity’, was carrying aid and activists from the Free Gaza Movement, and sailed from Cyprus late Monday bound for the Gaza.

There were no reported casualties in the incident, which occurred Tuesday morning some 130 km off the Gaza coastline. The damaged vessel is now believed to be heading for Lebanese waters.

‘There is a problem with the fuel and they are trying to reach the Lebanese southern port city of Tyre,’ a Lebanese security source said.

Israel has declared the coastal territory a closed military zone and said the Free Gaza Movement boat would not be permitted to dock.