US deeply concerned by reports of illicitly obtained oil being loaded at Libyan port

The United States is "deeply concerned" by reports that a vessel sailing under the name Morning Glory is loading a cargo of illicitly obtained oil at the Libyan port of As-Sidra, the State Department announced. "This action is counter to law and amounts to theft from the Libyan people, " said department spokeswoman Jen Psaki. "The oil belongs to the Libyan National Oil Company and its joint venture partners.These partners include U.S. companies in the Waha consortium. Any oil sales without authorization from these parties places purchasers at risk of exposure to civil liability, penalties and other possible sanctions in multiple jurisdictions."