Charity headed by Gaddafi's son to send Gaza aid boat

A charity headed by the son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is sending an aid boat from Greece to Gaza to break the Israeli "siege," the organizers said on Friday.

Officials from the organization told the Associated Press the Moldova-flagged cargo ship Amalthea would sail Friday or Saturday from the port of Lavrio, south of Athens, carrying 2,000 tons of food and medical supplies.

The Tripoli-based Gaddafi International Charity and Development Association said it was sending a cargo ship "loaded with about 2,000 tons of humanitarian aid in the form of foodstuff and medications".

Organizers said aid included sacks of rice and sugar, as well as corn oil and olive paste, all mostly donated from Greek companies and charities. The aid was loaded into the hull of the aging vessel by crane.

The ship will also carry "a number of supporters who are keen on expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people in the plight amidst the siege imposed on Gaza," the organization added in a faxed statement.

The charity is chaired by Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, second son of the Libyan leader.

Eight Turks and a dual US-Turkish citizen were killed in May when Israeli commandos raided a flotilla heading for Gaza, sparking a furious row with Ankara which wants Israel to apologize or accept an international probe.

AFP and AP contributed to this report

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