Turkey Says No Weapons Destined to Syria Found on German Ship

Turkish authorities found no weapons after searching a German-owned vessel docked at a southern port last week on suspicion of smuggling arms to Syria, an official report has disclosed.

"As a result of the investigation, nothing was encountered which can be described as weapons, munitions or military materials inside any of the checked goods," according to the report which was signed by Turkish customs officials.

The Antigua and Barbuda flagged Atlantic Cruiser, which belongs to a German company Bockstiegel, docked at Iskenderun port last Wednesday after suspicions that it was carrying Iranian weapons on board destined for Syria.

Turkish authorities conducted a thorough search of its cargo.

"During the performed tally; the types, numbers and the quantities of Syria cargo were found in full compliance with the figures pointed out within the relevant cargo documents," they said in the report.

After the search, the checked cargo was loaded back on board, the report said, adding there had been no damage to the goods during the investigation.

The German shipping firm had denied allegations that its vessel was carrying Iranian arms to Syria which would have flouted EU sanctions against the Damascus regime.

The government of Syrian President Bashar Assad is under Western sanctions due to the deadly crackdown on dissent which erupted in March last year.

Turkey, a former ally of Damascus, has also slapped some sanctions on its neighbor -- including interception of Syria-bound arms shipments by air, land and sea.

Throughout last year, Turkey intercepted several ships and trucks suspected of carrying weapons into Syria through Turkish territory.