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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Thais drop N Korea arms charges | Thais drop N Korea arms charges |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Thailand has dropped charges against the five-member crew of a plane suspected of carrying weapons from North Korea. | Thailand has dropped charges against the five-member crew of a plane suspected of carrying weapons from North Korea. |
| A spokesman for Thailand's attorney general said the five would be deported to face prosecution in their own countries. | A spokesman for Thailand's attorney general said the five would be deported to face prosecution in their own countries. |
| The five men, four from Kazakhstan and one from Belarus, were held after a refuelling stop in Bangkok in December. | The five men, four from Kazakhstan and one from Belarus, were held after a refuelling stop in Bangkok in December. |
| The movement of weapons from North Korea is subject to UN sanctions. | The movement of weapons from North Korea is subject to UN sanctions. |
| When the cargo plane was inspected it was found to be carrying 30 tonnes of weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades, explosives and missile components. | When the cargo plane was inspected it was found to be carrying 30 tonnes of weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades, explosives and missile components. |
| The ultimate destination of the arms remains unknown. | The ultimate destination of the arms remains unknown. |
| Released | Released |
| Thanapich Mulapruk, spokesman for the attorney general's office, said in a statement: "The trial here will not benefit Thailand, so we have decided to drop the charges. | Thanapich Mulapruk, spokesman for the attorney general's office, said in a statement: "The trial here will not benefit Thailand, so we have decided to drop the charges. |
| "Their countries of origin want to try the men in their home countries." | "Their countries of origin want to try the men in their home countries." |
| The crew members - who were charged with the illegal possession of weapons - were expected to be released later in the day, said their lawyer Somsak Saithong, quoted by AP news agency. | The crew members - who were charged with the illegal possession of weapons - were expected to be released later in the day, said their lawyer Somsak Saithong, quoted by AP news agency. |
| The five say they believed the cargo was oil-drilling equipment | The five say they believed the cargo was oil-drilling equipment |
| The Georgian-registered Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft is believed to have started its journey in Central Asia. | The Georgian-registered Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft is believed to have started its journey in Central Asia. |
| Thai media has reported it had made several stops on its way to North Korea, including in Thailand. | |
| It is believed a tip-off from US officials led Thai authorities to search the aircraft when it stopped in Bangkok on the return journey. | |
| The five men have said they had no idea the plane had a cargo of arms. | The five men have said they had no idea the plane had a cargo of arms. |
| Their lawyer said they had thought they had been carrying equipment for oil drilling. | Their lawyer said they had thought they had been carrying equipment for oil drilling. |
| Cynthia Brown, a spokesman for the US embassy in Bangkok, said the US "congratulated" Thailand for supporting UN resolutions regarding North Korea. | Cynthia Brown, a spokesman for the US embassy in Bangkok, said the US "congratulated" Thailand for supporting UN resolutions regarding North Korea. |
| "They have submitted their investigation to the UN," she said. | "They have submitted their investigation to the UN," she said. |
| The UN has imposed a raft of sanctions against North Korea in response to its nuclear programme. | The UN has imposed a raft of sanctions against North Korea in response to its nuclear programme. |
| However, analysts say that despite the embargo, North Korea earns hundreds of millions of dollars every year by selling arms to countries such as Iran, Syria and Burma. | However, analysts say that despite the embargo, North Korea earns hundreds of millions of dollars every year by selling arms to countries such as Iran, Syria and Burma. |