Anger as E Guinea shoots ship

The Norwegian foreign ministry has lodged an official protest after one of its research ships was shot at off the coast of Equatorial Guinea.

A Norwegian spokesman told BBC News Online that several bullets had hit the Fridtjof Nansen and its captain was detained overnight by coastguards.

Karsten Klepsvik said the ship had been doing a survey on fish stocks, which benefited Equatorial Guinea.

The incident comes two weeks after Equatorial Guinea accused Spain of sending a warship to stage a coup.

Survey suspended

"We see this as a very serious incident and demand an apology and an explanation," Mr Klepsvik said.

He said that the Equatorial Guinea authorities had not yet responded.

Equatorial Guinea's president came to power himself in a coup

"The ship will not conduct any further surveys until the government can guarantee its security," he said.

The research was being carried out through the United Nations World Food Programme.

After Saturday night's incident, the ship was taken to the Cameroon port of Douala.

The captain and chief engineer were released on Sunday afternoon after being detained overnight in the port town of Luba on the island of Bioko.

Some 17 alleged mercenaries are awaiting trial in the capital, Malabo accused of plotting a coup against President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.

Another 70 were arrested in Zimbabwe, where they are due to go on trial on 19 July.

Anthony Goldman, Africa analyst for Clearwater Research Services, says that the sudden arrival of oil wealth in what until a few years ago was one of the poorest countries in the world has "created an explosive mix" in Equatorial Guinea.