hippocracy! Rumsfeld & co happen to be the biggest proliferators of weapons in the world! THe motherfuckers...

Yemen protests over Scud seizure

Yemen has demanded the return of 15 Scud missiles and warheads seized by US and Spanish forces while en route to the country from North Korea.

The Spanish Navy, acting on American intelligence, intercepted and boarded the North Korean freighter So San in the Arabian Sea on Monday.

The missiles and warheads, along with a quantity of chemicals, were reportedly hidden under a cargo of cement and the ship was handed over to the US Navy. It is now being escorted to the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia.

While the Yemeni Government is not regarded as an enemy by the US, there are fears that such military hardware could fall into the hands of radical Islamic groups operating in the country.

The US is also deeply concerned about North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear programmes, which it regards as a threat to stability.

The Yemeni Government said the shipment was destined for its army, and has lodged formal protests with the US and Spain over the seizure of the So San.

The official Yemeni news agency, Saba, quoted Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi as saying: "The shipment is part of contracts signed some time ago.

"It belongs to the Yemeni Government and its army and meant for defensive purposes."

The news agency added: "The foreign minister stressed the importance of the return of the shipment to the Yemeni Government."

Speaking ahead of the Yemeni statement, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld condemned North Korea.

Mr Rumsfeld said: "North Korea doesn't like to hear me say it, but they continue to be the largest proliferator of missiles and ballistic missile technology on the face of the Earth.

"They are putting in the hands of many countries technology and capabilities which have the potential for destroying hundreds of thousands of people."

Legal questions

Mr Rumsfeld declined to comment on whether the missile shipment constituted a violation of international law, but said there were legal issues surrounding efforts to conceal the weapons.

Questions about the legality of the seizure have already been raised.

US and South Korean officials discussed the missile issue in Seoul on Wednesday, in talks which were originally called to discuss a row over the death of two schoolgirls in a road accident involving a US military vehicle.

North Korea, which has admitted having a nuclear weapons programme, has been described by President George W Bush as being part of an "axis of evil" which includes Iraq and Iran.