The Egyptian authorities late yesterday released the 946-ton Greek freighter Parnon which they had been holding at Port Said since Sept.2nd when they halted it for carrying a cargo of asphalt to be unloaded at the Israeli port of Eilat and a number of automobiles assembled in Israel and shipped to East African ports.
Agents for the Greek vessel immediately announced here that they were prepared to take on further cargoes for Eilat and East African ports to be delivered via the Suez Canal. The agents stressed the fact that shipments to Eilat via the Canal were one-third cheaper than shipments overland through the Negev.
(The Associated Press reported today from Port Said that the Egyptians had removed 3,000 barrels of asphalt and a number of automobile tires from the Parnon before clearing the vessel out of Port Said.)
The Israeli Cabinet last week instructed the Israel delegation at the United Nations to protest to the Security Council against Egyptian seizure of the vessel. The protest pointed out that besides being in violation of the UN Charter and of the Israel-Egypt armistice agreement, the ship seizure violates a Security Council resolution specifically calling on Egypt not to molest Israel-bound shipping going through the Suez Canal.
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