Monday, May 31st, 2010 20:06:00
KUALA LUMPUR: A journalist and a cameraman from Astro Awani were on board the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara which was attacked by Israeli soldiers this morning, near Gaza, but their fate is still unknown.
According to an official from the station, they had been trying to contact journalist Ashwad Ismail, 25, and cameraman Shamsul Kamal Latip, 38, from 11am this morning but were not successful.
"We have lost contact with them. We are trying to find out about their condition through various means," he said when contacted.
He said their last contact with the duo was at 7.45pm yesterday when the ship was nearing Gaza, while visual on the movement of the Mavi ship was received early today.
While the duo's fate is still unknown, six other Malaysians on board another ship, Rachel Corrie, are safe.
Perdana Global Peace Organisation (PGPO) representatives Shamsul Akmar Musa Kamal, Matthias Chang and Ahmad Faizal Azumu, Parit Member of Parliament Dr Mohd Nizar Zakaria, TV3 reporter Halim Mohamed and cameraman Mohd Jufri Judin were on board the ship.
Al Jazeera reported that at least 15 activists were killed and many more injured when Israeli commandos attacked the Turkish ship which was leading the flotilla early this morning.
Shamsul, in an SMS to the PGPO, said they are about 1,000 miles from Gaza.
"We have heard about IHH. The plan now is to go ahead and turn back if there is warning from the Israeli army," he said.
According to the PGPO, the vessels are carrying 5,000 tonnes of reconstruction materials, school supplies and medical equipment to the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has condemned the brutal and brazen use of force by Israel on the aid convoy.
Pakistan High Commission Press Atache here, Qamar Bashir, said the attack was a violation of prevailing international laws and norms.
"The President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of Pakistan have also condemned the Israeli aggression against the aid convoy.
"Pakistan is contacting its missions in the region to gather further information on the attack and the well-being of Pakistani participants in the convoy," he told Bernama. - BERNAMA
More to come...
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