UAE LAUNCHES WARSHIP CONSTRUCTION

ABU DHABI [MENL] -- The United Arab Emirates has launched construction ofits first warship. The Abu Dhabi Ship Building Co. has begun work on its first multi-mission corvette, orderedby the UAE Navy under the Al Baynunah program. The project to build the 72-meter naval vessel in the UAE began on Dec. 21 and would be completed in 2009.