12 MALAYSIAN VOLUNTEERS ON GAZA-BOUND AID SHIP RETURN HOME

SEPANG (Malaysia), June 6 (Bernama) -- Twelve Malaysian volunteers who were on
board a humanitarian aid ship attacked by Israel while on its way to blockaded
Gaza on Monday returned here Sunday.

They arrived at 5.40am (Malaysian time) and were greeted by Deputy Prime
Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, several of his officers, Foreign Ministry
representatives and the volunteers' family members.

The volunteers, who were accompanied by Foreign Minister Anifah Aman and several
ministry officers, arrived from Istanbul by a Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight.

They had taken off from the Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan at
11.20am (4.20pm Malaysian time) on Friday and flown to Istanbul where they were
on transit until Saturday evening.

In the Monday incident, the Turkish aid ship "Mavi Marmara", which was carrying
the volunteers and activists from other countries as well as medical supplies,
was raided by Israeli naval forces, resulting in the death of nine activists.

The Malaysian volunteers on board were unharmed but were detained by the Israeli
forces and taken to Ashdod port in Israel before being transported to Amman,
Jordan.

Following this, Anifah and several of his officers left for Jordan on Wednesday
to secure the release of the 12 Malaysians.

The volunteers are scheduled to meet Prime Minister Najib Razak at his residence
Sunday.
-- BERNAMA