Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Report: Turkey discovers weapons in Iran plane bound for Syria...

Turkish media reports plane forced to land in southeast Turkey carried rocket launchers, mortars, rifles and explosive materials

Weapons were found on an Iranian cargo plane forced to land in southeast Turkey on Saturday, Turkish media reported Tuesday.

According to reports, the arms plane left Tehran with military ammunition for Syria. Several crates containing weapons and ammunition were removed from the aircraft.

Turkish media reported that the plane was forced to land in a military airfield at the United Nations' request following information indicating it was carrying nuclear materials. It was further reported that rocket launchers, mortars, rifles and explosive materials were found in one of the main cabinets on the plane.

Turkish newspapers stated this was the first time that a plane was forced to land in such circumstances since 2006.

Last Wednesday, another Iranian plane was forced to land in Turkey. The Turkish foreign ministry said at the time no suspicious materials were found.