The Norwegian foreign ministry has lodged an official protest after one of its research ships was shot at off the coast of Equatorial Guinea. A Norwegian spokesman told BBC News Online that several bullets had hit the Fridtjof Nansen and its captain was detained overnight by coastguards. Karsten Klepsvik said the ship had been doing a survey on fish stocks, which benefited Equatorial Guinea.
| So were are the cries of "No Blood For Fish"? |
| "Lookee here, an' get this straight: we're Africans, dammit! We ain't eatin' no damn lutefisk!" |
The incident comes two weeks after Equatorial Guinea accused Spain of sending a warship to stage a coup.
| Spain? They haven't been reading the papers, have they? |
| Those Spaniards! Every time you turn around they're staging a coup someplace. And the Norwegians are just as bad... |
"We see this as a very serious incident and demand an apology and an explanation," Mr Klepsvik said. He said that the Equatorial Guinea authorities had not yet responded.
| "Awright! Which one of youse guys shot up the Norwegians? Speak up, now!" |
"The ship will not conduct any further surveys until the government had guarantee its security," he said. The research was being carried out through the United Nations World Food Programme.
| "We're Africans, dammit! We don't need no damned... Ummm... Food, y'say?" |
After Saturday night's incident, the ship was taken to the Cameroon port of Douala. The captain and chief engineer were released on Sunday afternoon after being detained overnight in the port town of Luba on the island of Bioko. Some 17 alleged mercenaries are awaiting trial in the capital, Malabo accused of plotting a coup against President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. Another 70 were arrested in Zimbabwe, where they are due to go on trial on 19 July.
| Ah, that explains it. Remember, the mercs were supposed to meet up with a ship and stage a landing with the rubber boats that were seized and grab the president. Guess the coast guard is still looking for them. |
| Sounds like Teodoro's got a guilty conscience. "The guilty flee where no man pursueth"... |
Anthony Goldman, Africa analyst for Clearwater Research Services, says that the sudden arrival of oil wealth in what until a few years ago was one of the poorest countries in the world has "created an explosive mix" in Equatorial Guinea.
| Gotta keep a eye on those Norwegians, used to be Vikings you know. |
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