Beirut  - An Iranian aid ship carrying medical supplies for Gaza has arrived in Beirut after its organizers said Friday it was denied entry by Egypt.

Ghazanfar Rokn-Abadi, spokesman for the Gaza Reconstruction Committee of Iran, said: "The ship was forced to change course after Egypt denied it entry."

"We waited 24 hours and then decided to head for Lebanon," the spokesman was quoted by Lebanese radios as saying. The Iran Shahed arrived in Beirut, late Thursday.

Earlier this week, Egyptian officials said their decision to deny the ship entry was of fear that it might be carrying weapons for the Palestinian Hamas movement. (dpa)