Ghana 'violating intl norms' over ship: Argentina

Argentina's defense ministry on Thursday accused Ghana of violating "international norms" by refusing to release one of its warships and said it was sending two senior officials to Accra for talks.

Earlier in the day, a judge in Ghana rejected a bid by Buenos Aires to have one of its warships released from a port near Accra, where it is being held under a court order linked to a debt dispute.

"This decision violates international norms which protect the immunity to which this ship is entitled as a warship of the Argentine Republic," the defense ministry said.

"This move, which puts Ghana's international responsibility at stake, adds a political dimension to a legal matter that endangers bilateral relations," the ministry said.

Argentina has dispatched the deputy foreign and defense ministers to Accra for consultations with "Ghana's highest authorities," the statement said.

The frigate Libertad was seized on October 2 under a court order linked to claims by creditors NML Capital, which are suing Buenos Aires over its 2002 bond default.