Seized oil tanker docks in Libyan capital

A commercial oil tanker that was seized and returned by U.S. forces after it loaded crude at a Libya port held by anti-government rebels, has docked back in the capital Tripoli, a Reuters witness said on Sunday.

The Morning Glory tanker was due to arrive later at Libya's Zawiya port, where its cargo of crude is to be feed to the Zawiya refinery.

U.S. special forces seized the tanker a week ago off Cyprus, days after it left Libya with a cargo of crude from Es Sider port, which is controlled by rebels who demand more autonomy and oil wealth in defiance of the central government.

According to the Pentagon, the move was made at “request of both the Libyan and Cypriot governments.”

No one was hurt "when U.S. forces, at the request of both the Libyan and Cypriot governments, boarded and took control of the commercial tanker Morning Glory, a stateless vessel seized earlier this month by three armed Libyans," Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby said in a statement, reported by Agence France-Presse.

The ship was boarded by the SEALs just after 0200 GMT Monday “in international waters southeast of Cyprus” following President Barack Obama approval of the operation.

(With Reuters and AFP)