Greek Coast Guard confirmed on Monday that one of its patrol vessels opened warning fire against a Turkish freighter ship sailing in the waters off Rhodes island in the southeastern Aegean Sea.
Citing the Greek Coast Guard statement, Xinhua reported that the warning shot against the "ACT" Turkish-flagged ship was fired after the latter refused to stop for an inspection.
Rhodes Port Authority had earlier received information that the particular vessel was carrying drugs cargo, the statement from the Piraeus-based headquarters added.
Its captain was asked by the Greek Coast Guard to lead the ship to the port of Rhodes but he refused. The Greek Coast Guard has informed its Turkish counterpart of the incident.
Turkey's Foreign Ministry was quoted by media as saying that it was in contact with the relevant authorities. The report added two Turkish coast guard ships were at the scene.
--IANS
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