Turkish protest ship returns home

[August 07, 2010]  ISTANBUL (AP) -- The Turkish protest ship that was seized by Israel in a deadly raid in May has returned to Turkey.

Turkish television showed the Mavi Marmara arriving at the Mediterranean port of Iskenderun on Saturday after leaving the Israeli port of Haifa on Thursday. Another Turkish vessel released by Israeli also arrived and a third is expected later in the day.

The ships had been part of a flotilla sailing toward Gaza to protest Israel's blockade of the Hamas-ruled territory.

Israeli troops intercepted the boats on May 31 and clashed with pro-Palestinian activists on the Mavi Marmara, leaving nine people dead.

[Associated Press]

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