Danish Leader Thanks U.S. for Help
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COPENHAGEN — Danish Prime Minister Poul Schlueter thanked the United States on Sunday after a U.S. frigate went to the aid of a Danish supertanker under Iranian attack in the Persian Gulf.
The frigate Elmer Montgomery, which aided the 337,733-ton Karama Maersk on Saturday after a grenade assault by three gunboats about 13 miles south of Abu Musa island, was the first U.S. warship to fire in defense of a neutral tanker attacked by Iran in the Gulf.
“It causes deep concern that shipping in international waters in the gulf continues to be drawn into conflict,” Schlueter said.
“I wish to express the government’s appreciation for the support which the American Navy was able to give the Danish ship.”
The prime minister said the U.S. Navy help prevented loss of life and damage to the ship.
“It goes without saying that the government has protested to the Iranian government about the attack and has demanded an explanation,” Schlueter said.
He made the announcement on Sunday before the United States acknowledged that one of its cruisers accidentally shot down an Iranian airliner.
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