The two Bulgarian journalists, who were arrested after Israeli commandos stormed a convoy of ships carrying aid to the Gaza Strip, are safe and sound, the Bulgarian, Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov, informed.

Mladenov made the announcement minutes ago through his profile on the “Twitter” social network.

Svetoslav Ivanov, a reporter, and Valentin Vassilev, a cameraman, who work for the country's biggest private national TV channel bTV., are unhurt and have been brought to land at the Israeli port of Ashdod, according to Mladenov.

Meanwhile, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry officially confirmed that Ivanov and Vasilev are safe in Ashdod, basing the report on information received from the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

The journalists will be transfered in the next hours to the international airport in Tel Aviv to board a flight to Europe, but before that they will meet with Bulgarian diplomats in Israel.

Earlier Monday, on the invitation of Bulgaria, the Israeli Ambassador to Bulgaria,Noah Gal-Gendler, met with the Deputy Foreign Minister, Konstantin Dimitrov, who asked an immediate diplomatic access to the journalists.

At least 15 people, all reported to be Turkish citizens, have been killed after Israeli commandos stormed a convoy of ships carrying aid to the Gaza Strip.

Israel declared Monday that the organizers of the flotilla, which tried to reach the Gaza Strip despite the Israel blockade, are terrorists connected to Hamas and Al-Queda. Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in Canada, has canceled his visit to Washington on Tuesday to return to Israel.

The attack sent shock waves of outrage in Palestine, Greece, and Turkey, while the EU and the UN demand full investigation of "
what has happened."


Oddy