Freed Ukranian Shi[ to unload arms

Kenya said that the freed Ukrainian vessel MV Faina, which was held by Somali pirates for 134 days, would offload its cargo of tanks and other weaponry in the port of Mombasa on Thursday.

Controversy still surrounds the nature of the shipment, with Kenya insisting it is the final recipient despite revelations by several experts and diplomats that the arms are in fact intended for the government of South Sudan. Kenya's military spokesman Bogita Ongeri told AFP Wednesday senior military officials, including Defense Minister Yusuf Haji, would be in Mombasa to supervise the offloading process.

"The ship will dock at 12.30 pm (0930 GMT) Thursday. Those who had doubts about the contents and its destination should be there to witness," he said.

"The minister will be there as well. We will all be there to receive the Faina and our military cargo which will be offloaded and taken in for safety in our respective military camps," he said.

"Already security has been beefed up in the coastal town. Our troops are there just to ensure everything is fine," Ongeri added.

• According to sources close to the negotiations, the Faina's cargo of 33 battle tanks and some 14,000 rounds of ammunition is the fifth of its kind to have transited through Kenya on its way to southern Sudan

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