Argentina sues Ghana over seized ship

BUENOS AIRES - Argentina has filed a lawsuit against Ghana at an international tribunal over the latter's detaining of one of its naval training ships, Foreign Minister Hector Timerman said Wednesday.

Argentina sued Ghana on Tuesday at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Hamburg, Germany, after more than a month of spats over the seized ship.

Buenos Aires demands "immediate and unconditional release of the frigate Libertad and the supply of the provisions needed to depart from (Ghana's) Tema Port as quickly as possible," Timerman said.

Ghana seized the ship on Oct 2 on a claim filed by US-based private investment fund NML Capital Limited that Argentina owed it $370 million.

The Argentine government wants the tribunal to "declare Ghana's international responsibility for the illegal seizure of the frigate ... and to obligate the country to compensate Argentina for the damage caused by the illegal move," said the minister.

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez has ordered to evacuate the 279 passengers aboard, leaving behind a crew of 44 to operate and maintain the vessel.