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Published: Saturday December 12, 2009 MYT 8:33:00 PM

12 missing after ship sinks off Lebanon shore


JERUSALEM (AP): U.N. and Israeli forces are searching for 12 missing crew members after an Israel-bound freighter sank 50 miles off the Lebanese shore.

An Israeli army spokeswoman says the ship left Greece and was headed to the northern Israeli port of Haifa when it sank Saturday.

The spokeswoman said no foul play was suspected. Israel and Lebanon have tense relations that worsened after Israeli forces went to war with Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah in 2006.

The spokeswoman added that U.N. peacekeeping forces stationed in southern Lebanon were participating in the search.

Another official said 12 crew members were missing in the accident but could not offer further information.

The official requested anonymity because he was not authorized to provide the information.

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