Скачать или смотреть Pro-Palestinian flotilla activists protest in front of US embassy

(1 Jul 2011) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of pro-Palestinian protesters in front of the US embassy in Athens chanting
2. Close up of hand showing V-sign
3. Mid of protesters
4. Close up of banner
5. Close up of banner reading free Gaza
6. Wide of protesters
7. More of banners
8. Wide of demo in front of the embassy
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Ramazotti, first name not given, Italian flotilla activist:
"It all (departure) depends on Greek harassment and Greek people, authorities letting Israeli saboteurs' work undisturbed."
10. Wide of embassy
11. Various of protesters in front of the embassy
STORYLINE
Pro-Palestinian activists intending to take part in a Gaza bound flotilla staged a protest in front of the US embassy in Athens on Friday, demanding that US authorities clarify recent statements on their attempt.
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said that the flotilla organisers were attempting only to provoke Israel into taking military action against them, something she said would be justified.
The protest outside the US embassy came as an Irish ship dropped out of the pro-Palestinian flotilla planning to break Israel's blockade of Gaza, citing sabotage, and a US ship declared it may set sail from a Greek port for Gaza without permission, activists said.
Up to 400 international activists had been due to sail this week to Gaza aboard 10 ships leaving from Greece to protest the naval blockade that Israel imposed on the Palestinian territory after Hamas militants overran it in 2007.
It was now unclear when the Gaza convoy was likely to depart.
"It all (departure) depends on Greek harassment and Greek people, authorities letting Israeli saboteurs' work undisturbed," said a flotilla activist.
The Irish ship MV Saoirse on Thursday had to abandon plans to set sail because of what it called Israeli sabotage.
An activist told Israel's Army Radio that the ship's engine was damaged while in port and could have lead to deaths on board.
A US State Department spokesman asked to comment on Thursday on the alleged sabotage said there was no proof it had taken place due to a lack of what he called independent confirmation.
Earlier this week, activists said Israel damaged the propeller of a Swedish ship in Pireaus.
Israel has not commented on the allegations.
An Israeli raid on a similar flotilla last year killed nine activists on a Turkish ship and each side blamed the other for the violence.

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