November 30, 2002	Saturday	Ramazan 24, 1423

NAIROBI, Nov 29: A rocket launcher found near Mombasa airport after missiles were fired at an Israeli plane is a Russian-built Strela model, a military specialist said on Friday after studying television footage of the weapon.

The missile launcher is a Strela SS 16, the Russian equivalent of the US-made Stinger system, according to a specialist who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity. However he said it was not yet clear what type of missile was fired from it.

The specialist said he studied Kenyan television footage of the small launcher, which an individual can rest on his shoulder to fire a missile.

Kenyan police said on Thursday they had recovered a missile launcher and the casings of exploded missiles used by attackers who tried to shoot down an Israeli plane in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa.

Two missiles were fired at a charter plane from Israel’s Arkia airlines with 261 passengers on board as it was taking off from the airport early Thursday.

Both narrowly missed their target.

“The firing instrument and the casings of two exploded missiles have been found and are now in the hands of the investigators,” police spokesman King’ori Mwangi told AFP.