2 Bulgarian Journalists Held at Israeli Deportation Center

Politics » DIPLOMACY | June 1, 2010, Tuesday // 09:27
2 Bulgarian Journalists Held at Israeli Deportation Center: 2 Bulgarian Journalists Held at Israeli Deportation Center A Pro-Palestine protester waves a Turkey's flag amidst tear gas smoke in Paris. Israeli naval forces’ storming of six ships bound for Gaza with tones of aid and pro-Palestinian activists aboard triggered global protests. Photo by BGNES

The two Bulgarian journalists, who were arrested after Israeli commandos stormed a convoy of ships carrying aid to the Gaza Strip, have spent the night at a deportation center, Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov, informed.

Mladenov said in a TV interview Tuesday that his Ministry is doing everything possible to ensure the safe return home of Svetoslav Ivanov, a reporter, and Valentin Vassilev, a cameraman, who work for the country's biggest private national TV channel bTV.

They are expecting to leave for Bulgaria in the next hour, but will meet with the Bulgarian Ambassador to Israel before departure.

480 people, who were traveling on the 6-ship flotilla, are detained and held at the Israeli port of Ashdod, while the authorities have begun the deportation of 48 of them.

At least 15 people, all reported to be Turkish citizens, have been killed after the Israeli commandos stormed a convoy of ships carrying aid to the Gaza Strip Monday.

Israel declared that the organizers of the flotilla, which tried to reach the Gaza Strip despite the Israel blockade, are terrorists connected to Hamas and Al-Queda. Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu canceled his Tuesday visit to Washington to return to Israel.

The attack sent shock waves of outrage in Palestine, Greece, and Turkey, while the EU and the UN demand full investigation of "what has happened."

NATO is also holding an emergency meeting on Turkey’s request. Turkey is accusing Israel of State-supported terrorism.

Meanwhile, the Association of Palestinians in Bulgaria, announced they are organizing a protest rally Tuesday, which will begin at 4:30 pm in the park in front of the National Palace of Culture in downtown Sofia. The demonstrators will march to the Parliament.

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Tags: Israel, Gaza

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