M A I N   N E W S

US missile ships head for Red Sea

Cairo, March 15
At least three more missile-firing US warships and three US attack submarines passed through the Suez Canal today heading south to the Red Sea, Suez Canal sources said.

US defence officials said on Thursday that they planned to move about a dozen missile-firing warships from the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf region to join more than 60 other US ships in preparation for a possible war on Iraq.

The canal sources said the two destroyers, one cruiser and three attack submarines were seen moving through the waterway this afternoon. A navy spokesman said five warships made the trip yesterday.

Another US naval ship, which could not be identified, entered the Suez Canal today along with a US navy salvage ship, the sources said. Reuters