Swedish author among those held

Bestselling Swedish author Henning Mankell was among the Swedes who joined the international flotilla attempting to break the blockade,but he was not aboard the Turkish aid ship raided by Israeli commandos and is the only Swedish activist named so far.

Sofia,the ship which Mankell was aboard,docked at the Israeli port of Ashdod. A spokesman at the Foreign Ministry in Stockholm,Anders Joerle,said that Mankell was still considering whether he should be deported,which would mean being put on a plane at Ben Gurion airport and flown back to Stockholm,or face trial in Israel.

“I believe that Henning Mankell is now being held in custody,” said Joerle.

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There were 11 Swedes with the flotilla. Four are at Tel Aviv airport and will be deported during the day. Six Swedes are being detained,two of whom were on board the Turkish ship.

Sweden summoned Israel’s ambassador on Monday and asked him to explain the deaths of nine activists during the raid on a Turkish aid ship,describing the incident as unacceptable.