A ship carrying U.S. arms for the Bosnian army left port without unloading its cargo Saturday as U.S. and Bosnian officials attempted to work out political disputes.
The American Condor had been docked two days waiting for permission to unload its cargo of $100 million in military equipment. Given the potentially explosive nature of its cargo, the ship moved out of the harbor at Ploce to a point off the Croatian coast, port officials said.The United States has delayed delivery of the weapons until the Bosnian government meets a series of U.S. demands, including problems over implementation of a joint Muslim-Croat defense law.
A key dispute is over Washington's request for the resignation of the Bosnian federation's deputy defense minister, whom it suspects has maintained close ties to Iran.
Hasan Cengic, an Islamic cleric and close associate of Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic, spent part of the 31/2-year war in Tehran arranging arms deliveries to Bosnia at a time when it was under a U.N. arms embargo.
Bosnian officials have refused to comment publicly on Cengic's future and matters related to the delivery of the arms shipment.